The Holy Synod will select between bishops Arseniy and Gerasim for the Metropolitan of Sliven

Bishop Arseniy of Znepol and Bishop Gerasim of Melny are the 2 candidates for Metropolitan of Sliven, BGNES reported.

26 folks voted for Arseniy, and 25 for Gerasim, introduced the deputy of the Metropolitan of Sliven and chairman of the election fee, Metropolitan Ioan of Varna.

Five folks signed the minutes of the election with a dissenting opinion. The cause for the dissenting signatures is to notice the names of the candidates.

“We have accepted two invalid ballots within the protocol. One had no candidate marked in any manner. Absolutely clean. It is totally invalid. In the opposite poll, as a substitute of blocking all of the names, they blocked the quantity in entrance of the title. The names are recognized, they’re very clearly recognized Because there was an objection from one of many delegates, I accepted it as invalid. To be sincere, this can be a frivolous act. We have 26 votes for Bishop Arsenius Gerasim”, mentioned Metropolitan John.

Father Yevgeny Yanakiev informed how he handed the election. “This time, they collected our telephones. There was no pointless exit from the corridor – solely separately. There was unimaginable self-discipline, everybody adopted it. The choice went splendidly,” he shared.

Election outcomes will be appealed inside three days. If there aren’t any established violations, then subsequent Sunday the Holy Synod should meet and elect a Metropolitan of Sliven.

Bishop Arseny in the intervening time it’s Vicar of Plovdiv Metropolitan Nikolay. Arseniy is 37 years outdated and was ordained to the episcopal rank by the late Sliven Metropolitan Ioanikiy.

Bishop Gerasim is ordained bishop by the late patriarch Neophytus and is the overall secretary of the Holy Synod of the BOC.

Diocesan elections have been held for the second time on Sunday. After the dying of Ioannicius in January, elections for his successor have been already held as soon as, which the Synod canceled with out clarification, and this additionally led to protests. Then the Holy Synod got here out with a closing choice to carry the brand new elections in response to the outdated guidelines, and earlier than {that a} monetary and property audit should be accomplished.

At the tip of April, the Holy Synod of the BOC selected an inventory of six bishops, two of them are competing for the brand new Metropolitan of Sliven right this moment. The listing consists of Bishop Sioni of Veliky, Bishop Arsenius of Znepol, Bishop Gerasim of Melny, Bishop Pachomius of Branica, Bishop Macarius of Glavinice and Bishop Isaac of Velbazhda.