site.btaPresident Congratulates Hieromonk Gabriel for His Election as Zograf Monastery Hegumen

President Rumen Radev congratulated hieromonk Gabriel on his election as hegumen of the Zograf Monastery in Mount Athos, the head of State's press secretariat said here on Monday. In his address, the President expressed confidence that under the newly elected hegumen the Monastery will continue to be a pillar of faith, Orthodox unity and Bulgarian spirituality.

Radev stressed that in the future the State will continue to support the establishment of the Zograf Monastery as an important centre of Orthodox monasticism and of Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage.

“I am convinced that with responsibility and dedication to your holy mission you will be a faithful follower of the legacy of the long-time hegumen of the monastery Archimandrite Ambrose,” Radev added.

Archimandrite Ambrose passed away after a brief illness on January 27, 2025. 

Hieromonk Gabriel was born on  December 11, 1973, in Sofia under the name Georgi Karatotev. He arrived at the Zograf Monastery on December 20, 1997. He was ordained hieromonk on October 24, 2003.