site.btaBulgarian Patriarch Daniil Turns 53

The Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil, turns 53 on Sunday, the Bulgarian Patriarchate said on its website.

Patriarch Daniil, secular name Atanas Trendafilov Nikolov, was born on March 2, 1972 in Smolyan, Southern Bulgaria. He completed his primary and secondary education in his hometown.

In 1996, he enrolled as a student of English Philology at St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. The next year, he transferred to the Theology Faculty at the same university.

In 1997, he was admitted as a novice at the St. George monastery near Hadzhidimovo in Southwestern Bulgaria, under the spiritual guidance of the late Metropolitan Natanail of Nevrokop. On August 7, 1999, Natanail tonsured him with the monastic name Daniil, and ordained him as hierodeacon the following day.

Daniil graduated from the Theology Faculty at Sofia University in 2002.

On July 21, 2004, he was sent to the Nativity of the Theotokos Rozhen monastery (Southern Bulgaria), where he took his vows. On November 27 of that year, the diocesan archpriest ordained him as a hieromonk, elevating him to the rank of archimandrite on June 1, 2006.

By decision of the Holy Synod on January 20, 2008, Daniil was ordained bishop with the title of Bishop of Dragovit in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky in Sofia and was appointed vicar to the Metropolitan of Nevrokop. He served in this position until June 15, 2010, when, upon request from Metropolitan Yosif of the United States, Canada and Australia, he became his vicar. Daniil held that post until February 4, 2018, when he was canonically elected Metropolitan of Vidin.

On June 30, 2024, the Patriarchal Election Council elected Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin as Patriarch of Bulgaria with 69 votes. He was elected by 69/66 votes after a runoff against Metropolitan Grigorii of Vratsa.