Bulgarian Orthodox Church Elects New Pro-Russian Patriarch

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has elected Metropolitan Daniil as its new patriarch, following the death of Patriarch Neophyte in March. Daniil, considered a pro-Russian figure, won the support of 69 out of 138 delegates at the church council, succeeding Neophyte who led the church for over a decade. This election comes at a time of significant divisions within the church and broader Bulgarian society, particularly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine over two years ago.

Daniil has been vocal in his support for the Moscow Patriarchate in its dispute with the Ecumenical Patriarch over the independence of Ukraine’s Orthodox Church. He has also criticized the expulsion of Russian and Belarusian clerics accused of espionage. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which represents over two-thirds of the country's population, is officially separate from the state, though Eastern Orthodoxy is recognized as the "traditional religion" in Bulgaria's constitution.