Metropolitan Symeon of Varna and Preslav (1840–1937) and Dobrudja

Within the Bulgarian Exarchate the Orthodox population of Dobrudja fell into two eparchies: those of Dorostol-Cherven and of Varna-Preslav. The first head of the latter was Metropolitan Symeon (1840–1937), a prominent figure in the Bulgarian ecclesiastical and civil history. Elected for the spiritual leadership of the Varna-Preslav eparchy in 1872, he remained on that service for the extraordinary long period of 65 years until his death in 1937. The paper provides a brief sketch of Metropolitan Symeon’s life, as well as an account of his relation to the history of Dobrudja. A description is given of the joint Varna-Preslav eparchy, its borders and territorial span during the years, particularly focusing on its Dobrudja part. There is also an estimation of Metropolitan Symeon’s attitude toward his flock living in Dobrudja, based on documents. The presentation covers the arch-hierarch’s travels around the region, the church building, the ecclesiastically related ethnic questions, the refugee problem, etc. It concludes with an assessment of Metropolitan Symeon’s role in the Dobrudja’s past for his long years of service.