A Bulgarian Orthodox metropolitan who played a crucial role in the country's struggle for independence and was a key figure in the Bulgarian National Revival. He advocated for the establishment of an independent Bulgarian church and education system.
Kiril of Varna, also known as Bogomil Petrov Kovachev, was a prominent figure in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, serving as the metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav from 1988 until his death in 2013. He was also the interim patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church from 2012 to 2013, following the death of Patriarch Maxim.
Kiril was born on June 8, 1954, in Bulgaria. He began his ecclesiastical career in the 1970s, rising through the ranks of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. In 1988, he was appointed as the metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav, a position he held until his death.
In 2012, a historical commission reported that Kiril was one of 11 bishops who had collaborated with the Communist secret police during the communist regime in Bulgaria. The commission found that Kiril had provided information to the authorities, which was used to repress dissent from 1976 to 1989. This revelation sparked controversy and criticism of Kiril's role in the church.
In 2012, Kiril became the interim patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church following the death of Patriarch Maxim. He held this position until February 24, 2013. Tragically, Kiril was found dead on a Black Sea beach near his Varna residence on July 9, 2013. An autopsy later revealed that he had drowned, and there were no signs of violence.
Kiril's legacy is marked by controversy and criticism. His collaboration with the Communist regime has been widely condemned, and his role in the church has been questioned. Despite this, he played an important role in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, serving as a metropolitan and interim patriarch. His death marked the end of an era, and his legacy continues to be debated among Bulgarians and Orthodox Christians worldwide.
