Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin Elected as the New Patriarch of Bulgaria
Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin emerged victorious in the election for the new Patriarch of Bulgaria, receiving 69 votes in the second round.
Metropolitan Grigory of Vratsa secured second place with 66 votes, while 3 ballots were deemed invalid.
During the initial round of voting, Metropolitan Grigory of Vratsa led with 64 votes, advancing to the second round. He was accompanied by Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin, who garnered 51 votes. Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovchan, who received 19 votes, was eliminated in the first round. There were also 4 invalid ballots in the initial round.
It is important to note 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 ultimately chosen.
Furthermore, the candidates for the position of Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia must meet specific criteria, including being a serving diocesan Metropolitan of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, being at least 50 years old, having governed a diocese as a Metropolitan for a minimum of five years, and demonstrating a strong Orthodox faith and adherence to church order.
Who is Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin?
Atanas Trendafilov Nikolov, born in Smolyan on March 2, 1972, graduated from the Sofia Theological Academy in 2002. He entered the Holy Monastery of St. George in Hadjidimovo as a monk on August 7, 1999, was ordained a deacon the following day, and an elder on November 27, 2004, by Metropolitan Nathaniel of Nefrokop. He was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on June 1, 2006, ordained as the titular Bishop of Dragovitia and auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolis of Nefrokop on January 20, 2008, and served as the abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. George in Hadjidimovo. On June 15, 2010, he was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolis of America, and on February 4, 2018, he was elected as the Metropolitan of Vidin.