Daniil of Bulgaria

Bulgarian Orthodox Patriarch since 2024

Патриарх Даниил
ChurchBulgarian Orthodox ChurchSeeSofiaInstalled30 June 2024PredecessorNeophyteOrdersRankPatriarchPersonal detailsBorn
Atanas Trendafilov Nikolov

(1972-03-02) 2 March 1972 (age 52)
Smolyan, Bulgaria
DenominationEastern Orthodox ChurchPrevious post(s)
  • Metropolitan Bishop of Vidin (2018‍–‍2024)
  • Bishop of Dragovitia (2008‍–‍2018)

Patriarch Daniel (Bulgarian: Патриарх Даниил, romanized: Patriarh Daniil), secular name Atanas Trendafilov Nikolov (Bulgarian: Атанас Трендафилов Николов; born 2 March 1972), is a prelate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, currently serving as Patriarch of All Bulgaria since June 2024. Prior to his election, he was the Metropolitan Bishop of Vidin (2018–2024) and bishop of Dragovitia (2008–2018).

Early life and education

Atanas Trendafilov Nikolov was born on 2 March 1972 in Smolyan in the then People's Republic of Bulgaria. He completed his primary and secondary education in his hometown and later served in the military. In 1996, he began studying English Philology at Sofia University, but the following year he transferred to the Faculty of Theology of the same university, where he graduated in 2002.[1]

Episcopate

On 21 July 2004, Daniel was sent for obedience to the Rozhen Monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On 27 November of the same year he was ordained hieromonk by his diocesan bishop. On 1 June 2006, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. On 20 January 2008, he was consecrated Bishop of Dragovitia and vicar of the diocese of Nevrokop diocese.[2]

On 15 June 2010, Daniel was appointed vicar of the diocese in the US, Canada and Australia of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. On 2 December 2011, the Holy Synod "took note of the letter from Metropolitan Joseph of the USA, Canada and Australia, notifying that permission had been received from the American emigration authorities to fulfill the obedience assigned by the Holy Synod to Bishop Daniel of Dragovitia, who can already leave and take on responsibilities, as metropolitan vicar of the USA, Canada and Australia".[3] He was considered the most likely successor to Metropolitan Joseph Bosakov.[4] On 4 February 2018, he was elected by the Synod to the post of Metropolitan of Vidin.[5] In December 2018, Metropolitan Daniel condemned the Unification Council in Kyiv, calling it uncanonical. In his opinion, the actions of Patriarch Bartholomew are non-canonical, since he encroached on someone else's canonical territory.[6]

Patriarch

After the death of the former Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Neophyte in March 2024 and respective mourning period, then Metropolitan of Vidin, Daniel was one of the three shortlisted candidates to ocuppy the patriach position together with Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa and Metropolitan Arsenius of Sliven.[7] On 30 June 2024, at the patriarchal electoral Church-People's Council in Sofia, Metropolitan Daniel was elected the new Patriarch of Bulgaria, Metropolitan of Sofia.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Biography of Daniil of Dragovitia".
  2. ^ "Днес бе ръкоположен нов епископ на БПЦ" (in Bulgarian). Dveri.
  3. ^ "Решения на Св. Синод от 02. 12. 2011 г". Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Болгарский митрополит США, Канады и Австралии решил уйти на покой — Церковно-Научный Центр "Православная Энциклопедия"". Archived from the original on 14 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  5. ^ Панайотова, Д. (4 February 2018). "Каноническият избор на нов Видински митрополит" (in Bulgarian). bg-patriarshia.bg. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Митрополит Даниил: Съборът в Украйна е неканоничен". bg-patriarshia.bg. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018.
  7. ^ "Williams, His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Stafford, (born 20 March 1930), Archbishop of Wellington, (RC), and Metropolitan of New Zealand, 1979–2005, now Emeritus Archbishop", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, retrieved 1 July 2024
  8. ^ "Избран новый Предстоятель Болгарской Православной Церкви". Патриархия.ru. 30 June 2024.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Eastern Orthodox Church
Autocephalous churches
Four ancient patriarchates
Junior patriarchates
Autocephalous
archdioceses/metropolises
Autonomous churchesDiaspora
AssembliesHistoryLiturgyOther
icon Christianity portal
  1. ^ The ROC severed full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2018, and later severed full communion with the primates of the Church of Greece, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Church of Cyprus in 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized.
  3. ^ UOC-MP was moved to formally cut ties with the ROC as of May 27th 2022.
  4. ^ a b Semi-autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church whose autonomy is not universally recognized.
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • VIAF
National
  • Czech Republic