The Holy Synod unanimously elected Metropolitan Grigoriy of Vratsa as Deputy Chairman of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The election was announced by the speaker of the Synod, Metropolitan Kipiran of Stara Zagora, BGNES reported.
Metropolitan Grigoriy will lead the Sofia diocese and be responsible for the election of a new patriarch. It should be organized and held within the next 4 months.
9 out of 13 metropolitans can be elected to the post of patriarch. According to the statutes of the BOC, they must have reached the age of 50 and have been metropolitans for at least 5 years. Late last night, however, Metropolitan Nikolay of Plovdiv announced that he would not run for patriarch.
Regarding the decision of Grandfather Nicholas, Metropolitan Kipiran said it was final. /BGNES
