The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia () is one of fifteen dioceses of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The diocese is led by Metropolitan Joseph Bosakov of America and Australia. As of 2020 it had 2 monasteries and 24 parishes with 5386 adherents, but 1410 regular attendees in the United States.
History
The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia had its origins before World War II as the Bulgarian Diocese of North and South America and Australia. However, a result of the establishment of a Communist government in Bulgaria after the war, relations of the diocese with the Church of Bulgaria were disrupted. Under Metropolitan Andrew (Petkov), the diocese attempted, in the late 1950s, to join the Metropolia but was unsuccessful.
In 1964, Metropolitan Andrew petitioned the Holy Synod of the Church of Bulgaria for his return to the Bulgarian episcopacy and to continue to lead the diocese in America. With the return of Metropolitan Andrew and his diocese to the Church of Bulgaria, a group under Archimandrite Kyrill (Yonchev) broke with Andrew and joined the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) as the Bulgarian Diocese in Exile. The ROCOR bishops consecrated him bishop.
The Metropolitan Andrew's diocese is currently led by Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) with parishes in the United States, Canada, and Australia as an overseas diocese of the Church of Bulgaria under Patriarch Daniil and the Holy Synod of Bishops. The diocesan cathedral is Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Cathedral in New York, USA.
The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia was a member of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas until its replacement by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, where it is now a member.
List of Parishes A map of parishes from the 2010 census has been made.
Parish Country City, State / Province Clergy Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocesan CathedralUnited StatesNew York City, New YorkMetropolitan Joseph; Bishop Daniil; Fr. Ikonom Peter Totev; Holy Dormition Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United StatesSanta Rosa, CaliforniaFr. Michael Oyer, Rector; Fr. David Skopp, Assistant to the Rector; Fr. Stephen Steineck; Protodeacon James Hughes; Deacon Samuel Woolums, Fr. Philip Tolbert, Deacon Matthew Sundahl, Fr. Timothy Zieminski Christ the Savior Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox MissionUnited StatesNashville, IndianaFr. Jerome Sanderson, Priest in Charge; Deacon Lucien Stant Holy Ghost Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United StatesSterling Heights, MichiganArchimandrite Gregory (Valentine); Deacon Michael Urbanski Holy Resurrection Bulgarian Eastern OrthodoxUnited StatesAllston, MassachusettsFr. Patrick Tishel, Rector; Fr. Michael Kon; Deacon John Fanourios Williamson; Deacon Teodor Anastasoaie; Deacon Tudor Sambeteanu Holy Transfiguration Bulgarian Eastern OrthodoxUnited StatesEast Syracuse, New YorkFr. Philip McCaffery, Rector; Fr. Peter Bunitsky Joy of All Who Sorrow Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchUnited StatesIndianapolis, IndianaFr. Stevan Bauman, Rector; The Reverend John Koen Protodeacon Michael Walker Holy Trinity Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchUnited StatesMadison, IllinoisFr. Ivan Malinov Saint Herman of Alaska Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchUnited StatesHudson, OhioThe Reverend Basil Rusen, Rector; Deacon Basil Wallace Saint Innocent of Alaska Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchUnited StatesKodiak, AlaskaFr. Paisius DeLucia, Rector; Fr. Joshua Resnick; Deacon Anthony May Saint Innocent of Alaska Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox MissionUnited StatesSalem, VirginiaFr. Michael Furry, Rector. Saint Petka Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United StatesBrookline, MassachusettsFr. Rumen Pelovsky, Priest in Charge. Saint Sophia Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchUnited StatesPhoenix, ArizonaFr. Michael Michaelov, Rector Saint Sophia Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchUnited StatesDes Plaines, IllinoisFr. Gruiou Tzonkov, Rector Saint Stephen Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United StatesIndianapolis, IndianaFr. Dimitar Angelov, Rector Saint Thomas Eastern Orthodox ChurchUnited StatesFairlawn, OhioFr. James/Dimitri/Wright, Rector; Fr. Vladimir Bakurdzhiev, St. Clement Ohridski Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchUnited StatesDearborn, MichiganFr. Slavcho Panev St. Maximos the Confessor SketeUnited StatesPalmyra, VirginiaRev. Igumen Father Mefodii; Rev. Hieromonk Father Kyrill; Brother Paul St. George Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchUnited StatesOrlando, FloridaFr. Ljubisa Brnjos Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox CathedralCanadaToronto, OntarioFr. Valery Shoumarov St. Dimitar Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchCanadaToronto, OntarioVery Rev. Dr. Milan Radulović St. George Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchCanadaToronto, OntarioFr. Georgi Despodov, Rector; Fr. Boris Drangov, Holy Trinity Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox ChurchCanadaToronto, OntarioFr. Velichko Mihaylov, Rector Holy Ascension Orthodox ChurchCanadaToronto, Aurora, OntarioFr. Milan Radulovic; Fr. Boris Kriger Holy Transfiguration Orthodox MissionCanadaHuntsville, OntarioFr. Boris Kriger Saint Ivan Rilsky Eglise Orthodoxe BulgareCanadaMontreal, QuebecFr. Dimiter Shumov Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox CathedralAustraliaMelbourne, VictoriaFr. Alexander Popov Saint Petka Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church AustraliaAdelaide, South AustraliaFr. Todor Popov Source: Official site of the Diocese
See also Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Canada Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania
External links Bulgarian Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia
Sources OrthodoxWiki Source for Article
References