Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin was elected the new Patriarch of Bulgaria

Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin was elected the new Patriarch of Bulgaria.

Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin won the second round with 69 votes.

Metropolitan Grigory of Vratsa came in second with 66 votes, while 3 ballots were invalid.

In the first round of voting, Metropolitan Grigory of Vratsa led with 64 votes, qualifying for the second round. He was joined by Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin, who received 51 votes. Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovchan received 19 votes and was eliminated in the first round. There were 4 invalid ballots in the first round.

It is recalled that Metropolitans Grigory of Vratsa, Daniel of Vidin, and Gavriil of Lovchan were selected to form the triprosopon, from which the new Patriarch of Bulgaria was chosen.

In addition, the individuals who were to be elected as the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia must meet the following criteria: they must be a serving diocesan Metropolitan of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, be at least 50 years old, have governed a diocese as a Metropolitan for at least five years, and be distinguished by sound Orthodox faith and strict adherence to church order.

Who is Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin

Atanas Trendafilov Nikolov was born in Smolyan on March 2, 1972. He graduated from the Sofia Theological Academy in 2002. On August 7, 1999, he became a monk in the Holy Monastery of St. George in the town of Hadjidimovo. He was ordained a deacon on August 8, 1999, and an presbyter on November 27, 2004, by Metropolitan Nathaniel of Nefrokop. On June 1, 2006, he received the title of Archimandrite. On January 20, 2008, he was ordained titular Bishop of Dragovitia and auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolis of Nefrokop. He served as abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. George in Hadjidimovo. On June 15, 2010, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolis of America. On February 4, 2018, he was elected Metropolitan of Vidin.