Diocese of Veliko Tarnovo

The monastery church of the Drjanowo Monastery

The Diocese of Veliko Tarnowo ( Bulgarian Великотърновска епархия ) is an eparchy ( diocese ) of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church . The diocese of Veliko Tarnovo is now one of the largest in Bulgaria and is divided into nine Okolii (districts): Veliko Tarnovo , Swishtov , Nikopol , Gorna Oryachovitsa , Gabrovo , Elena , Sevliewo , Drjanowo , Trjawna and Pavlikeni . The center of the diocese is the medieval capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. More than 600,000 people live in the diocese and there are around 450 places of worship and 20 monasteries.

Leading clergy

• Metropolitan Ilarion Makariopolski (1872–1875)
• Metropolitan Kliment Drumew (1884–1901)
• Metropolitan Anthim Kantschew (1901-1914)
• Metropolitan Josef Rafailow (1914-1918)
• Metropolitan Filip Penchev (1920-1935)
• Metropolitan Sofronij Tschawdarow (1935–1961)
• Metropolitan Stefan Stajkow (1962–1992)
• Metropolitan Grigory Stefanov (1994–)

Important church buildings

The Sweti Dimitar Church in Veliko Tarnovo

• Drjanowo Monastery
• Kilifarewo Monastery
• Sokolski Monastery
• The “Holy Trinity” patriarchal monastery in Veliko Tarnovo
• The Holy Forty Martyrs Monastery in Veliko Tarnovo
• The Sweti Dimitar Church in Veliko Tarnovo

Web links

Commons : Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of Veliko Tarnovo  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• The Diocese of Veliko Tarnovo on the Official Website of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (bulg.)