View source for Joseph (Bosakov) of America and Australia

His Eminence Metropolitan '''Joseph (Bosakov)''' is the ruling hierarch of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox [[Diocese]] of the USA, Canada, and Australia, under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Bulgaria]] since 1986. He submitted his resignation on [[February 26]], 2013, but it seems to still be pending.

== Life ==
Metr. Joseph was born Ivan Blagoev Bosakov, on [[December 6]], 1942 in the village of Slavovitsa, Pazardzhik, Bulgaria. From 1956 to 1961, Ivan was enrolled as a student of the Sofia [[Seminary]]. After his graduation in 1961, he continued his theological education at St. Kliment Ohridski Theological Academy in Sofia, graduating in 1970.

On [[April 12]], 1970, Ivan entered Troyan Monastery and was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] by Metropolitan [[Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria|Maxim]] of Lovech, with the name Joseph in honor of the righteous [[Joseph of Arimathea|Joseph of Arimathea]]. On [[May 3]], 1970, he was [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]] by Metr. Maxim. On [[December 27]], 1970, Dcn. Joseph was ordained to the rank of a [[priest]] and was appointed protosyngellos of [[Diocese]] of Lovech. After Metr. Maxim was [[enthronement|enthroned]] as Patriarch of Bulgaria, Father Joseph was appointed [[protosyngellos]] of the Diocese of Sofia in July 1971. 

On [[October 10]], 1971, Fr. Joseph was assigned by the Bulgarian [[Holy Synod]] to conduct specialist theological studies at [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]]. After defending his doctoral thesis, and with the blessing of the Patr. Maxim, Fr. Joseph was raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] by Patriarch [[Pimen (Izvekov) of Moscow|Pimen]] on [[July 21]], 1973. After returning to Bulgaria, he resumed his duties as protosyngellos of the Diocese of Sofia,

On [[December 7]], 1980, Archim. Joseph was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Velica and appointed second [[vicar]] of the Diocese of Sofia. On [[March 24]], 1981, Bishop Joseph was appointed [[abbot]] of Troyan Monastery, and on [[June 1]], 1982 he became the first vicar of the Diocese of Sofia.

On [[April 1]], 1983, Bishop Joseph was appointed to lead the Bulgarian Diocese of Akron in the United States, and on [[April 17]], 1986, he was formally elected Bishop of Akron. On [[December 18]], 1989, the Holy Synod of the Church of Bulgaria decided to restore the unified Bulgarian American and Australian diocese that had existed until 1969. The next day, [[December 19]], 1989, Bp. Joseph was elected Metropolitan of the US and Australia. By the decision of the Fifth Assembly of the Church and Laity, held in Sofia on [[December 17]], 2001, he was named Metropolitan of the US, Canada, and Australia  with the [[see|seat]] in New York City.

On [[November 27]], 2012, Metropolitan Joseph was appointed by the Holy Synod as the spokesman on the Patriarchal church council election. On [[February 15]], 2013 at the meeting of the Holy Synod Metr. Joseph was appointed Chairman of the Central Commission, the purpose of which was to nominate three candidates for the patriarchal throne after the repose of Patr. Maxim on [[November 6]], 2012. 

Late February 2013, Metr. Joseph submitted a petition for retirement. He advised that he had prepared a candidate as a replacement and wants to return to Bulgaria permanently. As of September 2020, Joseph's retirement has yet to occur.

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{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Velica<br>vicar Diocese of Sofia|
years=1980 - 1983|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Velica<br>vicar Diocese of Akron|
years=1983 - 1986|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Akron|
years=1986 - 1989|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of the US and Australia|
years=1989 - 2001|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of the US, Canada, and Australia|
years=2001 - present|
after=Incumbent}}
{{end box}}

==Source==
*[http://sofiaglobe.com/2013/02/26/bulgarian-orthodox-church-metropolitan-joseph-of-the-us-canada-and-australia-resigns/  Sofia Globe: Bulgarian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Joseph, of the US, Canada and Australia, resigns]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Velica]]
[[Category: Bishops of Akron]]
[[Category: 20th-21st-century bishops]]