Metropolitan Joseph: Christmas is a double holiday for Orthodox Bulgarians in the USA, Canada and Australia

published on 12/25/24 4:30 AM

Photo: Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese in the USA, Canada and Australia

This year, the holiday of Christmas for the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese in the United States, Canada and Australia is especially exciting! Metropolitan Joseph’s long-standing prayers to have his own vicar bishop have come true. His previous vicar from 2010 to 2018 was Daniil Dragovitiyski, the current Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia, who put his heart and soul into the development of the diocese and the communities within it.

Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin is the new Bulgarian Patriarch

Six years later, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate, Archimandrite Kliment – a cleric of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox diocese in the USA, Canada and Australia, was elevated to episcopal rank with the title of Levkiyski.

"Christmas is a great holiday, but for me as the Metropolitan of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese in the United States, Canada and Australia, it is also a great holiday, because I have been honored with a man of God," His Eminence Joseph noted in a special interview for Radio Bulgaria. "Perhaps I am the most joyful today. Many metropolitans do not have a vicar, and mine is also a Mount Athos resident, a brother in one of the twenty monasteries. One of the largest there is our Zograf Monastery."

The Monastery of St. George Zograf in Mount Athos
Metropolitan Joseph tells how in a miraculous way the monks saw the painted image of St. George the Victorious and thus gave his name to the Zograf Monastery. As a monk from Zograf, Bishop Kliment, he has two heavenly patrons - St. George the Victorious and St. Clement of Ohrid the Miracle Worker:

On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, Metropolitan Joseph sends his blessings to the audience of Radio Bulgaria and all our Orthodox compatriots:

"I want to congratulate all Orthodox Bulgarians on having peace! May peace prevail and, most importantly, celebrate the triumph of peace, of meeting with our Lord. This is a feast of the family, a feast of good people. The most important thing is to be healthy and celebrate the holiday with joy with the whole family together! May Christmas bring joy and prosperity to every family. Happy holiday!"