The diocesan election for a new metropolitan will take place in Sliven today after the death of Metropolitan Ioanniki on January 9, 2024. The date for the election was set by the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Diocese voters participate in the election, who will nominate two candidates who have collected more than half of the votes among the persons with episcopal rank in the Sliven Diocese, specifies BTA.
On April 22, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church determined the list of eligible bishops for the election of a new Metropolitan of Sliven. It includes Bishop Sioni of Veliki, Bishop Arsenius of Znepol, Bishop Gerasim of Melny, Bishop Pachomius of Branica, Bishop Makariy of Glavinice and Bishop Isaac of Velbazhda.
The elections for a new Metropolitan of Sliven are scheduled for the second time. In the diocesan election held on February 18, 2024 in Sliven, voters broadcast by the diocese cast their votes in the first round for His Eminence Bishop Hieroteus of Agathopol - 26 votes, and in the second round - for His Eminence Bishop Michael of Constantia - 22 votes. On February 24, the Holy Synod approved the diocesan election.
Priests, diocesan voters and lay people protested in Sliven, Yambol, Burgas and Sofia against the cancellation of the elections. There was also a counter-protest in support of the decisions of the Holy Synod.
On March 19, 2024, at a meeting, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church scheduled new elections - on May 19, the diocesan election of a new Metropolitan of Sliven, and on May 26, the canonical election of the Metropolitan of Sliven by the members of the Holy Synod. At it, from these two bishops elected by the diocesan electors, the metropolitans of the Holy Synod will elect and confirm the new metropolitan of Sliven.