Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia

Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Cathedral in New York

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 Neophyte and the Bulgarian 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.

Source: Official site of the Diocese

• St. John of Rila Church, Targovishte
• Bulgarian diaspora
• Bulgarian Americans
• Bulgarian Canadians
• Bulgarian Australian

• Bulgarian Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia

• OrthodoxWiki Source for Article