The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church elected Bishop Arseniy of Znepol as the new Metropolitan of Sliven, BNT reported.
He received the votes of 7 of the clergy. Metropolitan Gregory of Veliko Tarnovo, Metropolitan Ignatius of Pleven, Metropolitan Nikolay of Plovdiv, Metropolitan Antony of Western and Central Europe, Metropolitan Naum of Ruse, Metropolitan Kyprian of Stara Zagora and Metropolitan Yakov of Dorostol voted for Arsenius.
Bishop Gerasim's candidacy was supported by Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa, Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovchan, Metropolitan John of Varna, Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop and Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin.
There were two candidates for the post of Metropolitan of Sliven - Bishop Arseniy of Znepol and Gerasim of Melniš.
Znepole Bishop Arsenius is 37 years old. He was ordained a bishop by the late Sliven Metropolitan Ioanikiy.