„I never wanted to become patriarch, but when they offered me, I did not give up. That is, if it is God's will, I would accept. If it's not, I'm glad because it's a heavy cross. So the Lord delivered me also from this heavy cross. Although I would not of my own free will”.
This was commented by Lovchan Metropolitan Gavriil, who participated in the race for Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia.
„Thank God, worthy patriarch. I am very glad that he was chosen. He is a monk and for many years he lives spiritually, intelligent, let's hope he will be very good for our church. The first task – to create a team around him. Both in the Sofia Diocese and in the Synod, he can leave the same people, but he can judge”, Lovchan Metropolitan Gavriil also said.
„Every election of the holy church is God's lot, may God give him help and success,”, wished Metropolitan Nikolay of Plovdiv.
Metropolitan Grigoriy of Vratsa, Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin or Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovchan were the three bishops named as successors of Patriarch Neofitus.
64 delegates voted in the first vote for Metropolitan Grigori of Vratsa. Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin received 51 votes, and Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovchan was supported by 19 delegates.
There were also four invalid ballots. 138 delegates participated in the Assembly.
Vrachan Metropolitan Grigoriy and Vidin Metropolitan Daniil reached the runoff. After the re-voting, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church elected its fourth spiritual head – Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin.
He received 69 votes, and Metropolitan Grigory - 66. There are three invalid ballots.