site.btaDecember 18, 1944: Holy Synod Makes Decision to Hold Election of Bulgarian Church Leader with Title "Exarch of Bulgaria"

On October 16, 1944, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church accepted the resignation of Metropolitan Neophite of Vidin and elects Metropolitan Stefan as his successor. Two days later, the Synod decided to ask the Bulgarian government to give its consent for holding elections for an exarch. The consent comes, while some revisions as made in the Exarchate Statute to broaden the participation of the clergy and lay people in the election of an exarch. In this situation, on December 18, 1944 the Holy Synod decided to hold elections for a leader of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church with the title of "Exarch of Bulgaria". 

The election was scheduled for January 21, 1945. The dioceses were instructed to hold conventions on January 14, 1945, to elect seven representatives each (three clerics and four lay persons), to be sent to Sofia for the election of an Exarch. 

The election was held as planned, on January 21, 1944, in the Church of St. Sofia, with 90 attending representatives who had to choose among three candidates: Metropolitan Stefan of Sofia, Metropolitan Neophite of Vidin and Metropolitan Mihail of Dorostol-Cherven. Metropolitan Stefan received the most votes and was elected to become the third Bulgarian exarch.

Following is a news item on the matter, published in the BTA's Daily News bulletin:

Sofia, December 18, 1944 (BTA) - The Central Committee for Recommendations, Oversight, and Reform of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has developed an extensive program based on the principles of governance of the Apostolic Church, the Exarchate Statute of 1871, and the decisions of the Conventions of Clergy and Laity from 1921 and 1922. Regarding the structure and governance of the Bulgarian Church, the Central Committee recommends a full democratization, involving participation of lower clergy and laypeople in church administration, and inclusion of women in church elections. A reduction in the number of dioceses is to be made. The proposed administrative structure includes the following bodies: Church Boards, Diocesan Electors, Diocesan Mixed Councils, the Holy Synod (as a mixed council), the Church-National Council, the Patriarchate. 

The committee emphasized the need for economic and financial reforms, particularly in the management of monastic, parish, and synodal properties. Key measures include rapid assessment of the Church's material resources; centralized management through a council of specialists, such as agronomists and financial experts; modernization and cooperative management of monastic properties; maintaining Church ownership while integrating these assets into cooperative farming enterprises.

The Church's cultural, educational, and social activities must be enhanced by revising curricula at theological schools to remove unnecessary subjects and include social sciences; establishing vocational schools to foster a social perspective and eradicate authoritarian ideologies; opening and maintaining hospitals, sanatoriums, orphanages, homes for the elderly, resorts for workers and farmers, winter gardens, and similar facilities.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church must establish ecclesiastical communion with the Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Anglican, and Greek Churches. Immediate resolution of the schism with the Greek Church is deemed crucial.

The committee advocates strengthening the Church's international relations by actively participating in organizations such as the YMCA, the International Union for Peace Through Churches, and forming a Slavic Union of Orthodox Christian Youth. The Committee has also proposed several general reforms, including: changes to clergy attire, aligning the Church calendar with the secular calendar, and allowing priests to remarry, among others.

The Central Committee is committed to pursuing these reforms despite resistance from certain monastic circles within the Church's administration.