Bishop Arsenius and Bishop Gerasim Elected as Final Contenders for Sliven Metropolitan Post
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OCP News Service – 19/05/2024
Sofia – Bulgaria: On May 19, the Diocesan Election Council in Sliven convened to elect a new Metropolitan for the Sliven Diocese. The council, comprising 42 voters from the seven spiritual districts, cast their votes in two rounds, ultimately selecting Bishop Arsenius of Znepol and Bishop Gerasim of Melnysh as the leading contenders.
In the first round of voting, His Eminence Bishop Arsenius of Znepol received the majority with 26 votes, surpassing the required more than half of the votes as stipulated by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Statute. Other candidates in the first round included:
- Bishop Sioni of Velichka : 6 votes
- Bishop Gerasim of Melnysh: 21 votes
- Bishop Pachomius of Branitsa : 18 votes
- Bishop Macarius of Glavinitsa : 5 votes
- Bishop Isaac of Velbazhd: 5 votes
In the second round, Bishop Gerasim of Melnysh secured the necessary majority with 25 votes. The final tally for other candidates in the second round was as follows:
- Bishop Sioni of Velichka: 5 votes
- Bishop Pachomius of Branitsa: 5 vote
- Bishop Macarius of Glavinitsa2 votes
- Bishop Isaac of Velbazhd : 5 votes
His Eminence Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliko Preslav officially announced the results, congratulating the voters on their selections. He also oversaw the formation and signing of the protocol.
The final decision will be made at a meeting of the Holy Synod of the BOC, scheduled for May 25. The Synod will review the election documentation and hear a report from Metropolitan John, who has been overseeing the election process and managing the Sliven Diocese until the new Metropolitan is enthroned.
Source:
OCP News Service
