During its regular session on January 14, 2025, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC)—Patriarchate of Bulgaria reviewed a letter from Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa, the locum tenens of the vacant Diocese of Vidin.
As per Article 85, Paragraph 1 of the Statutes of the BOC – Patriarchate of Bulgaria, the Synod approved a list of bishop candidates for the upcoming election of the new Metropolitan of Vidin:
- Bishop Sionios of Veliki
- Bishop Gerasimos of Melnik
- Bishop Vissarion of Smolyan
- Bishop Michael of Constantine
- Bishop Pachomios of Branitza
- Bishop Makarios of Glavinitza
- Bishop Isaac of Yelbazhd
- Bishop Meletios of Znepole
Per Article 85 of the Statutes of the BOC, Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa will send a circular letter with the list of bishops to all diocesan voters.
The election for the new Metropolitan of Vidin will take place on February 2, 2025, in Vidin, with the canonical election scheduled for February 9, 2025, at the Holy Synod’s headquarters in Sofia.