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 edit
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 edit
| 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