Arseny (Chekandrakov) of Plovdiv

His Eminence Arseny (Chekandrakov) is the Metropolitan of Plovdiv under the jurisdiction of the Church of Bulgaria, a position he has held since 1987.

Life

Angel Blagoev Chekandrakov was born on July 29, 1932, in the village of Dylgo Pole in Plovdiv Province, Bulgaria. After completing his early education Angel entered the Plovdiv Theological Seminary, graduating in 1951. He then enrolled in the Sofia Theological Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria. After his graduation, he was appointed an assistant to the librarian of the Rila Monastery in 1955.

On June 2, 1956, Angel was tonsured a monk with the name Arseny. A week later, on June 10, 1956, he was ordained a hierodeacon. In 1956, Dcn. Arseny enrolled as a graduate student in the Moscow Theological Academy. On October 18, 1958, he was ordained a hieromonk by Patriarch Alexei I of Moscow. After his graduation from the Moscow Academy, Father Arseny returned to Bulgaria, and became a member of Rila Monastery. On July 23, 1961, Fr. Arseny was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite and began teaching on September 1, 1961 at the Theological Seminary in Cherepish, a position he held until April 1, 1968. On January 1, 1968, Archim. Arseny was appointed the protosyngellos of Eparchy of Vratsa while concurrently serving as a specialist at the Theological Faculty of Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.

On March 30, 1969, Archim. Arseny was consecrated the Bishop of Stobilsk, vicar of the Eparchy of Vratsa. On July 21, 1974, Bishop Arseny was elected Metropolitan of Vratsa. However, under pressure from the Communist authorities, the Holy Synod annulled his election and appointed Bp. Arseny igumen of Troyan Monastery, secretary of the Synod, and vicar of the Eparchy of Plovdiv. On February 1, 1987, Bp. Arseny was elected Metropolitan of Plovdiv.

Succession box: Arseny (Chekandrakov) of Plovdiv
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Stobilsk Vicar Eparchy of Vratsa 1969 - 1974	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Stobilsk Vicar Eparchy of Plovdiv 1974 - 1987	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Plovdiv 1987 - present	Succeeded by: —

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Source

• ORI: Metropolitan Arsenii of Plovdiv