New election of Bulgarian church Varna metropolitan set for December 22
The controversy-wracked election of a new Metropolitan of Varna of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is set for a re-run on December 15 and 22 after the church’s governing body, the Holy Synod, annulled the November 17 first-round vote by the electoral college in the Black Sea city.
In that vote, the electoral college in Varna shortlisted Bachkovo Monastery abbot Boris and Bishop Ignatii of Sliven, but there were immediate protests by clergy and laity, sparked by – among other things – allegations of vote-buying.
Further, protesters against the outcome of the vote rejected both candidates as unsuitable because of controversies about their backgrounds. Boris was singled out by detractors for an alleged love of luxury.
At a special three-hour meeting on November 23, the Holy Synod agreed unanimously to annul the election.
Initial plans were to present the results of the November 17 election to the Holy Synod for a final decision between the two candidates on November 24. The new schedule means that the outcome of the December 15 vote will be forwarded to the Holy Synod for a decision on December 22.
The elections in Varna will be overseen by the acting head of the diocese, Amvrosii. Bulgarian religious news website Dveri noted that with the list of candidates remaining essentially the same, it is possible that the new elections could produce the same result as the first.
(Photo: Nikola Gruev)
