Bulgarian Patriarch to Be Elected at Runoff

Society | February 24, 2013, Sunday // 12:06
Bulgarian Patriarch to Be Elected at Runoff: Bulgarian Patriarch to Be Elected at Runoff The Holy Synod building in downtown Sofia. File photo

Metropolitans from Ruse, Neofit, and from Lovech, Gavriil, have collected the most votes in the election of the new Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church by the Holy Synod's national church council.

Neofit has received 72 ballots, Gavriil – 45, white the third candidate - Stara Zagora metropolitan Galaktion has 22.

There will be, most likely a runoff since none of the candidates managed to collect two thirds of the votes (92 out of a total of 138 delegates casting ballots). Four ballots have been invalid.

Galaktion is seriously ill with pneumonia, and is not attending the council.

Bulgaria's Patriarch Maxim, who led the Church since 1971, passed away on November 6, 2012, at the age of 98.

The election is historic for Bulgaria as the last one happened 42 years ago, on July 4, 1971.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Society » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: regime, communist, Metropolitan, bishop, bishopric, sofia, maxim, laity, clergy, vicars, prelates, Diocese, election, patriarch, Holy Synod, Christians, Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Bishopс, Kiril, MKZ Hybrid, Lincoln, Varna, Epiphany, State Security, agent, Galaktion, Neofit, Gavriil, nikolay, DS, Files Commission, agents

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria