Bulgarian Apostolic Exarchate of

Sofia

Bulgaria

Continent: East Europe

Rite: Bulgarian (Byzantine)

Type: Apostolic Exarchate

Population: 10,000 Catholics (2015)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Strumica–Skopje (↙), Saint Nicholas of Ruski Krstur (↖), Făgăraş şi Alba Iulia (↑), Sfântul Vasile cel Mare de Bucureşti (↗), Istanbul (↘), Greece (↓)

Depends on: Congregation for the Oriental Churches

Statistics: 16 parishes, 17 priests (4 diocesan, 13 religious), 42 lay religious (15 brothers, 27 sisters), 1 seminarian (2015)

Website:

History

1926: Established as Apostolic Exarchate of Sofia / София / Sophiæ (Latin) (from the suppressed Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople, Apostolic Vicariate of Macedonia and Apostolic Vicariate of Tracia)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Катедрала Успение Богородично, Sofia

Present Prelates

Apostolic Exarch (1995.09.05 – ...):

Bishop Christo Proykov (72)

Titular Bishop of Briula

President of Episcopal Conference of Bulgaria

Ordinaries

Apostolic Exarchs of Sofia (Bulgarian Rite)

Bishop Christo Proykov (72)
(1995.09.05 – ...)

Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria)
Titular Bishop of Briula
President of Episcopal Conference of Bulgaria

Born:	1946.03.11 (Bulgaria)
Ordained Priest:	1971.05.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.01.06

Coadjutor Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria) (1993.12.18 – 1995.09.05)

Titular Bishop of Briula (1993.12.18 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Bulgaria (1995 – ...)

Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria) (1995.09.05 – ...)

Archbishop Metodi Dimitrov Stratiev, A.A.
(1971.03.09 – 1995.09.05)

Born:	1916.01.11 (Bulgaria)
Ordained Priest:	1942.07.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1965.09.05
Died:	2006.05.12 († 90)

Coadjutor Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria) (1963.04.28 – 1971.03.09)

Titular Bishop of Diocletianoplis in Thracia (1963.04.28 – 1993.12.18)

President of Episcopal Conference of Bulgaria (1970 – 1995)

Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria) (1971.03.09 – 1995.09.05)

Titular Archbishop of Diocletianoplis in Thracia (1993.12.18 – 2006.05.12)

Bishop Kyril Stefan Kurteff
(1951.04.27 – 1971.03.09)

Born:	1891.07.18
Ordained Priest:	1914.07.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1926.12.05
Died:	1971.03.09 († 79)

Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria) (1926.07.31 – 1942)

Titular Bishop of Briula (1926.07.31 – 1971.03.09)

Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria) (1951.04.27 – 1971.03.09)

Bishop Ivan Garufaloff, C.R.
(1942.07.06 – 1951.08.07)

Born:	1887.08.28
Ordained Priest:	1912.04.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1942.11.01
Died:	1951.08.07 († 63)

Titular Bishop of Lagania (1942.07.06 – 1951.08.07)

Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria) (1942.07.06 – 1951.08.07)

Bishop Kyril Stefan Kurteff
(1926.07.31 – 1942)

Born:	1891.07.18
Ordained Priest:	1914.07.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1926.12.05
Died:	1971.03.09 († 79)

Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria) (1926.07.31 – 1942)

Titular Bishop of Briula (1926.07.31 – 1971.03.09)

Apostolic Exarch of Sofia of the Bulgarians (Bulgaria) (1951.04.27 – 1971.03.09)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Apostolic Exarch: Bishop Christo Proykov (72) (1993.12.18 – 1995.09.05)
Coadjutor Apostolic Exarch: Bishop Metodi Dimitrov Stratiev, A.A. (later Archbishop) (1963.04.28 – 1971.03.09)

as of 2018.12.31

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