site.btaHoly Synod Elects Bishop of Znepole Arsenii New Metropolitan of Sliven

The Bishop of Znepole Arseny is the new Metropolitan of eparchy of Sliven, Southeastern Bulgaria. The metropolitans of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church appointed him by a vote of seven to five for the other candidate, the Bishop of Melnik Gerasim, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod.

The results of the vote were announced Sunday by the Locum Tenens of the Holy Synod, the Metropolitan of Vratsa Gregory. 

Arseny of Sliven (secular name Atanas Dimitrov Lazarov) was born on November 18, 1986 in Stara Zagora. 

He graduated with flying colours from the St. John of Rila Seminary in Sofia and later in theology from the University of Plovdiv in 2009.

On August 11, 2007 the Metropolitan of Plovdiv Nicholas tonsured him with the name of Arseny at the St. Cosmas and St. Damian monastery near Kuklen, Southern Bulgaria. Ordained hierodeacon and later hieromonk in 2008. Elevated to the rank of archimandrite in 2009 at the Dormition of the Theotokos cathedral in Plovdiv by Metropolitan Nicholas.

Served as parochial priest in the villages of Borets and Govedare, Plovdiv diocese, from 2008 till 2010. Head of the first ecclesiastic TV, Plovdiv Orthodox TV (PPTV) 2009. Appointed spiritual supervisor of Plovdiv diocese in 2010 and rector of the metropolitan church of St. Marina in Plovdiv in 2012.

Consecrated Bishop of Znepole on July 2, 2014 and ordained Vicar Bishop of the Metropolitan of Plovdiv on July 6 the same year, a position he continues to hold currently.