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Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia facts for kids

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The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia (Bulgarian: Българска източноправославна епархия в САЩ, Канада и Австралия) is one of fifteen dioceses of the Church of Bulgaria. The diocese is led by Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov).

History

Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Cathedral 02
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.

List of Parishes

Parish Country City, State / Province Clergy
Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocesan Cathedral United States New York City, New York Metropolitan Joseph; Bishop Daniil; Fr. Ikonom Peter Totev;
Holy Dormition Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Santa Rosa, California Fr. Michael Oyer, Rector; Fr. David Skopp, Assistant to the Rector; Fr. Stephen Steineck; Protodeacon James Hughes; Deacon Samuel Woolums, Fr. Philip Tolbert, Deacon Matthew Sundaul, Deacon Timothy Ziminski
Christ the Savior Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Mission United States Nashville, Indiana Fr. Jerome Sanderson, Priest in Charge; Deacon Lucien Stant
Holy Ghost Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Sterling Heights, Michigan Archimandrite Gregory (Valentine); Deacon Michael Urbanski
Holy Resurrection Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox United States Allston, Massachusetts Fr. Patrick Tishel, Rector; Fr. Michael Kon; Deacon John Fanourios Williamson; Deacon Teodor Anastasoaie; Deacon Tudor Sambeteanu
Holy Transfiguration Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox United States East Syracuse, New York Fr. Philip McCaffery, Rector; Fr. Peter Bunitsky
Joy of All Who Sorrow Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Indianapolis, Indiana Fr. Stevan Bauman, Rector; The Reverend John Koen Protodeacon Michael Walker
Holy Trinity Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Madison, Illinois Fr. Ivan Malinov
Saint Herman of Alaska Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Hudson, Ohio The Reverend Basil Rusen, Rector; Deacon Basil Wallace
Saint Innocent of Alaska Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Kodiak, Alaska Fr. Paisius DeLucia, Rector; Fr. Joshua Resnick; Deacon Anthony May
Saint Innocent of Alaska Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Mission United States Salem, Virginia Fr. Michael Furry, Rector.
Saint Petka Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Brookline, Massachusetts Fr. Rumen Pelovsky, Priest in Charge.
Saint Sophia Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Phoenix, Arizona Fr. Michael Michaelov, Rector
Saint Sophia Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Des Plaines, Illinois Fr. Gruiou Tzonkov, Rector
Saint Stephen Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Indianapolis, Indiana Fr. Dimitar Angelov, Rector
Saint Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church United States Fairlawn, Ohio Fr. James/Dimitri/Wright, Rector; Fr. Vladimir Bakurdzhiev,
St. Clement Ohridski Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Dearborn, Michigan Fr. Slavcho Panev
St. Maximos the Confessor Skete United States Palmyra, Virginia Rev. Igumen Father Mefodii; Rev. Hieromonk Father Kyrill; Brother Paul
St. George Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church United States Orlando, Florida Fr. Ljubisa Brnjos
Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Cathedral Canada Toronto, Ontario Fr. Valery Shoumarov
St. Dimitar Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church Canada Toronto, Ontario Very Rev. Dr. Milan Radulović
St. George Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church Canada Toronto, Ontario Fr. Georgi Despodov, Rector; Fr. Boris Drangov,
Holy Trinity Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church Canada Toronto, Ontario Fr. Velichko Mihaylov, Rector
Holy Ascension Orthodox Church Canada Toronto, Aurora, Ontario Fr. Milan Radulovic; Fr. Boris Kriger
Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Canada Huntsville, Ontario Fr. Boris Kriger
Saint Ivan Rilsky Eglise Orthodoxe Bulgare Canada Montreal, Quebec Fr. Dimiter Shumov
Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Cathedral Australia Melbourne, Victoria Fr. Alexander Popov
Saint Petka Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church Australia Adelaide, South Australia Fr. Todor Popov

Source: Official site of the Diocese: http://www.bulgariandiocese.org/parishdirectory.html

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