Anthony of Provat

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His Grace, Anthony of Provat was a bishop of the Church of Bulgaria during the post-World War II era of communist rule of Bulgaria. He sided for a few years with the schismatics within the Church of Bulgaria following the fall of the communist government.

Life

Bishop Anthony was born in 1915 in the village of Hurletz in the Vratsa region in northwestern Bulgaria. After graduating from the Theological Faculty in 1941, he entered a monastic life in 1943 when he was tonsured a monk, with the name Anthony, and ordained a deacon. He was ordained to the priesthood later in 1943. In 1944, Fr. Anthony served in Drama in Greek Macedonia when the Bulgarians occupied part of northern Greece. In 1944, after the communists had taken control of the government in Bulgaria, he was jailed, but was released after he appealed to the Communist party chief Georgi Dimitrov.

Fr. Anthony was consecrated a bishop in 1962 and appointed a Vicar of the Vidin eparchy. From 1977 to 1985 he served as Vicar of the Dorostol and Cherven eparchy. In 1988, Bp. Anthony was given charge of the Patriarchal cathedral in Sofia, serving until 1992. In 1992, Bp. Anthony became part of the schismatic movement in the Church of Bulgaria following the dismissal of the Holy Synod led by Patriarch Maxim by the new democratic government of Bulgaria headed by Philip Dimitrov. He led the schismatics' organization in Rousse. However in 1997, he re-joined the Maxim led synod.

Bishop Anthony reposed in Rousse, Bulgaria, on April 15, 2002. His funeral service was led by Patr. Maxim.

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Anthony of Provat
Preceded by:
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Bishop
Vicar of the Vidin Eparchy

1962-1977
Succeeded by:
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Preceded by:
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Bishop
Vicar of the Dorostol and Cherven eparchy

1977-1992
Succeeded by:
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Preceded by:
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Bishop of Provat
1997-2002
Succeeded by:
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