Andrey, Metropolitan of New York
Encyclopedia
Andrey, Metropolitan bishop of New York (Bulgarian Cyrillic: Андрей, Митрополит Нюйоркски) was the diocesan prelate of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia
during the years 1947-1972.
Born Stoyan Petkov, on 31 December 1886 in Vrachesh village, Botevgrad municipality, he took his comprehensive education in Targovishte
. In 1903 he entered the Sofia Seminary
where he graduated in 1909 and continued his education in Moscow Eastern Orthodox Academy during the period 1911-1916. Meantime he is a private during the Balkan War (1912–1913) and medical orderly in the Russian army (1914–1915). After graduating in the Moscow
Academy he has worked as a teacher in St. Petersburg for two years (1916–1918).
Petkov came back to Bulgaria
after bursting out of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia
. Again in his motherland he consecutively worked as: a secretary and inspector with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(1919–1921); a teacher in Sofia Seminary
(1921–1926); a head of culture department with the Holy Synod
of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
(1926–1929).
In 1928 Stoyan Petkov take Andrey as his name in religion. After being ordain as yero-deacon
and archimandrite
, on 20 April 1929 he became a bishop
with the title Velichki and appointed as vicar
with Simeon, Metropolitan
of Varna and Preslav.
In 1937 the Holy Synod
sent bishop Andrey to take control of the Bulgarian Eparchy of USA, Canada and Australia
with seat in New York
, USA.
He died in 1972 and was buried in the St. John of Rila Church, Targovishte
that was reconstructed with his donation during the 70s.
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia
The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia is one of fifteen dioceses of the Church of Bulgaria. The diocese is led by Metr. Joseph.-History:...
during the years 1947-1972.
Born Stoyan Petkov, on 31 December 1886 in Vrachesh village, Botevgrad municipality, he took his comprehensive education in Targovishte
Targovishte
Targovishte is a city in Bulgaria, capital of Targovishte Province. It is situated at the northern foot of the low mountain of Preslav on both banks of the Vrana River. The town is 335 km away to the north-east from the capital Sofia and about 125 km to the west from the city of Varna...
. In 1903 he entered the Sofia Seminary
Sofia Seminary
The Sofia Seminary of St John of Rila , located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the main seminary of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and an ecclesiastical institution of higher education. Founded in 1874 as the Samokov Theological School in the Sts...
where he graduated in 1909 and continued his education in Moscow Eastern Orthodox Academy during the period 1911-1916. Meantime he is a private during the Balkan War (1912–1913) and medical orderly in the Russian army (1914–1915). After graduating in the Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Academy he has worked as a teacher in St. Petersburg for two years (1916–1918).
Petkov came back to Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
after bursting out of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Again in his motherland he consecutively worked as: a secretary and inspector with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria is the ministry charged with overseeing the foreign relations of Bulgaria. It has been in existence since shortly after the Liberation of Bulgaria, with the first minister stepping into office on 17 July 1879...
(1919–1921); a teacher in Sofia Seminary
Sofia Seminary
The Sofia Seminary of St John of Rila , located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the main seminary of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and an ecclesiastical institution of higher education. Founded in 1874 as the Samokov Theological School in the Sts...
(1921–1926); a head of culture department with the Holy Synod
Holy Synod
In several of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, the patriarch or head bishop is elected by a group of bishops called the Holy Synod...
of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Bulgarian Orthodox Church
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church with some 6.5 million members in the Republic of Bulgaria and between 1.5 and 2.0 million members in a number of European countries, the Americas and Australia...
(1926–1929).
In 1928 Stoyan Petkov take Andrey as his name in religion. After being ordain as yero-deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
, on 20 April 1929 he became a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
with the title Velichki and appointed as vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
with Simeon, Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Varna and Preslav.
In 1937 the Holy Synod
Holy Synod
In several of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, the patriarch or head bishop is elected by a group of bishops called the Holy Synod...
sent bishop Andrey to take control of the Bulgarian Eparchy of USA, Canada and Australia
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia
The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia is one of fifteen dioceses of the Church of Bulgaria. The diocese is led by Metr. Joseph.-History:...
with seat in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA.
He died in 1972 and was buried in the St. John of Rila Church, Targovishte
St. John of Rila Church, Targovishte
St. John of Rila Church is an Eastern Orthodox church building in Targovishte. It is named after the Bulgarian Saint John of Rila who was the first Bulgarian hermit....
that was reconstructed with his donation during the 70s.