Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople (disambiguation).
Archbishop Joseph Sokolsky, November 1872. Source: Bulgarian Archives State Agency
Raphael Popov (1830-1876), Bulgarian Byzantine-Catholic Bishop
Archbishop Nil Izvorov (1823-1905)

The Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople (informally Constantinople of the Bulgarians) was the first missionary, pre-diocesan jurisdiction of the

Apostolic Vicariate it was exempt, i.e. directly dependent on the Holy See, and entitled to a titular bishop. It was created in 1861 and reorganized in 1883.[1]

History

Since the

irade) for that occasion.[4] However, in the summer of the very same year he was detached for Russia, never to return to his post. He died in 1879.[5]

When it became obvious that Joseph Sokolsky will not be returning from Russia, one of his closest associates - Bulgarian Byzantine-Catholic priest Raphael Popov was recognized in 1864 as "Patriarchal Vicar and popular leader of the Bulgarians united with the Roman Catholic Church" by the Ottoman authorities. On March 28, 1865 he was appointed Apostolic Administrator (pro tempore) of the Bulgarian Byzantine-Catholic Church and its vicariate in Constantinople. He was ordained a bishop on November 19, 1865 in the cathedral church "St. John Chrysostom" in Constantinople.[6] Later he transferred his offices to Edirne and continued serving until his death on February 23, 1876.[7]

He was succeeded by bishop

Eastern Catholicism in 1874. His succession was confirmed on 5 September 1876 by the Holy See
and thus he became the new head of Bulgarian Byzantine-Catholic Church and administrator (pro tempore) of its vicariate in Constantinople.

In 1878, autonomous

Salonica Vilayet
). New vicariates remained under spiritual jurisdiction of Archbishop Nil Izvorov.

In 1895, Nil Izvorov converted back to Eastern Orthodoxy, retrieved to Bulgaria and died in 1905.[10] In 1907, priest Michael Mirov was appointed titular Archbishop of Theodosiopolis and took the administration of the Bulgarian Byzantine-Catholic Vicariate in Constantinople. He served there until his death in 1923.[11]

During his administration, important events took place. In 1912,

First World War
(1914-1918) broke out. During those years, Bulgarian Catholic vicariates suffered drastic reduction of their jurisdiction, and after 1918 new arrangements had to be made.

After death of archbishop Michael Mirov in 1923, the vicariate was finally suppressed in 1926 and its remaining (

Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Sofia
, which remained as the particular church's last and only jurisdiction, absorbing both Constantinople's above daughter vicariates, Thrace and Macedonia.

See also

References

  1. ^ Catholic Hierarchy: Diocese of Bulgarian United Church
  2. ^ Frazee 2006, p. 243-244.
  3. ^ Frazee 2006, p. 245.
  4. ISBN 8880632108
    , p. 308.
  5. ^ Catholic Hierarchy: Archbishop Josif Sokolski
  6. ^ Frazee 2006, p. 246.
  7. ^ Catholic Hierarchy: Bishop Rafail Popov
  8. ^ Catholic Hierarchy: Archbishop Nilo Isvoroff
  9. ^ Catholic Hierarchy: Vicariate Apostolic of Tracia (Bulgarian)
  10. ^ Catholic Hierarchy: Archbishop Nilo Isvoroff
  11. ^ Catholic Hierarchy: Archbishop Michel Miroff (Mirov)

Sources

External links

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