Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov)

Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) (1942-____)

Ivan may be spelt Ioan, Ioann, John.

Bosakov may be spelt Bossakov.

Early life of Ivan Blagoev Bosakov

On 6 December, 1942, Ivan Blagoev Bosakov was born in the village of Slavovitsa, in the Pazardzhik Province, Bulgaria. He was 1 of 2 sons, and they were raised in the bosom of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Both his parents were active and practicing Orthodox Christian believers. Every Sunday, Ivan's mother and grandmother took him to worship in the local Temple of the Prophet Elias. During these formative years, his heart developed a longing to serve the Lord.

However, in 1946, there was a political coup, and the Bulgarian Communist Party took over the government of the country. In this context, it was in 1958 that he and his family, through beatings, were forced into the local collective farm.

Ivan had completed the elementary school in 1956, but he was barred from the regional high school (as was his brother), because he was the grandson of an influential land-owner.

Higher education

In 1956, with the help of his father and following his brother's example 2 years previously, Ivan was enrolled as a student of the Saint John of Rila Sofia Theological Seminary, an institution of the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria in Sofia, Bulgaria. Their father's friend helped them to be admitted.

Upon entry, Ivan found that one of his teachers demanded that he report on any misbehaviour of other students. He refused.

Nevertheless, in 1961, he graduated from the seminary of Saint John of Rila with high marks.

Throughout, there was pressure against him and his fellow students by the state authorities.

Saint John of Rila Orthodox Theological Seminary, Sofia

Military service

After his graduation, Ivan fulfilled the compulsory military service, after which he was recalled 4 times for "retraining". Because he was an Orthodox Christian believer and a seminary graduate, he was forbidden entry to the universities.

In 1966, he managed to continue his theological education at Saint Kliment Ohridski Theological Academy in Sofia, from which he graduated in 1970. Pressure was applied in order to persuade him to enter secular work instead.

Saint Clement of Ochrid University, Sofia

Monastic tonsure, 1970

On 12 April, 1970, Ivan entered the Troyan Monastery in the Balkan Mountains of Northern Bulgaria. This monastery is the third most famous monastery in all Bulgaria.

There, he was tonsured to be a monk by Metropolitan Maxim (Minkov) of Lovech, and he was given the name Joseph (in honour of the Righteous Joseph of Arimathea).

Troyan Monastery, Bulgaria

Ordinations, 1970

On 4 May, 1970, Monk Joseph (Bosakov) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Metropolitan Maxim (Minkov).

On 27 December, 1970, Hierodeacon Joseph (Bosakov) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Metropolitan Maxim (Minkov).

Pastoral service

Hieromonk Joseph (Bosakov) was assigned to serve as the protosyngellos (chancellor) of the Diocese of Lovech.

In July, 1971, after Metropolitan Maxim (Minkov) was enthroned to be the Patriarch of Bulgaria, Hieromonk Joseph was assigned to serve as the protosyngellos of the Diocese of Sofia.

Further education, 1971

On 10 October, 1971, Protosyngellos Joseph (Bosakov) was assigned by the Bulgarian Holy Synod to take a course of specialised theological studies at the Moscow Theological Academy in Russia. Because he undertook these studies with the blessing of the patriarchate, but without having state permission, he was again humiliated by the authorities.

Nevertheless, in 1973, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis there.

Moscow Theological Academy

On 21 July, 1973, with the blessing of the Patriarch Maxim (Minkov), Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) of Moscow and All Russia elevated Protosyngellos Joseph to the dignity of archimandrite.

Further pastoral service

Archimandrite Joseph then returned to Bulgaria, and to his duties as protosyngellos of the Diocese of Sofia. During the following years, he strove to help with the repairs of damaged Temples and he tried to protect the rights of the priests of the diocese. He recalled that the German teacher at the Cherepish Seminary once stopped beneath the Icon of the Saviour not Made by Hands, and he said :

 Lord Jesus, you give bread to a considerable number of people, to many who praise You, but also yet more to those 
 who blaspheme you ! Great are You in Your mercy !

During these years, Archimandrite Joseph was constantly under surveillance by the secret service, who had a large number of informants. There was no possibility of avoiding interviews filled with persuasive arguments full of lies and deception. The meetings required devoted focus on Christ in order to survive without co-operating.

During these years also, by a decision of the Holy Synod, he served as a delegate to ecumenical meetings in Prague, Nairobi and Moscow. It was his responsibility to write a part of the general report of the delegation to the Holy Synod.

While Archimandrite Joseph was being prepared for ordination, he continued to receive "visits" and pressure as usual from the secret service.

Episcopal ordination, 1980

On 7 December, 1980, at the Cathedral of Saint Alexander Nevsky in Sofia, Archimandrite Joseph (Bosakov) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by Patriarch Maxim (Minkov), who was assisted by other bishops.

Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia

Episcopal service

Bishop Joseph (Bosakov) was assigned immediately to serve as the Bishop of Velich, and as the second Vicar-Bishop of the Diocese of Sofia.

On 24 March, 1981, Bishop Joseph was assigned to be the abbot of Troyan Monastery.

On 1 June, 1982, he was assigned to serve as the first Vicar-Bishop of the Diocese of Sofia.

Once it was known that he was being prepared to serve in the Bulgarian Diocese in the USA, the pressures increased, with increased frequency of visits from the secret service. As always, it required of him particular spiritual alertness in order to resist the multitude of threats, persuasions and temptations which were brought to bear upon him by the secret service. His impending service abroad was not by his own design, but only by obedience, since he did prefer to remain in Bulgaria and to serve the people he knew.

Service in North America, 1983

On 1 April, 1983, Bishop Joseph was assigned to be the Bishop of the Bulgarian Diocese of Akron, Ohio, in the USA.

On 17 April, 1986, Bishop Joseph was formally elected and assigned to serve as the Bishop of Akron.

Restoration of the Diocese of the USA and Australia, 1989

On 18 December, 1989, the Holy Synod of the Church of Bulgaria decided to restore the unified Bulgarian American and Australian diocese that had existed until 1969.

On the next day, 19 December, 1989, Bishop Joseph (Bosakov) was elected by the Holy Synod to serve as the metropolitan of the USA and Australia.

After this major step forward with God's blessing, Bishop Joseph continued to labour amongst the flock entrusted to him in order to strengthen and unify it yet more.

In Australia, there were 3 parishes : in Sydney, Saint John of Rila Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church ; in Melbourne, Saints Cyril and Methodius Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church ; in Adelaide, Saint Petka Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church.

Addition of Canada to the episcopal title, 2001

By the decision of the 5th Assembly of the Church and Laity of Bulgaria, held in Sofia on 17 December, 2001, there was an adjustment to the title, and Metropolitan Joseph was named "Metropolitan of the Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia". The see of the metropolitanate was declared to be New York City.

Saints Kyril and Metodi Cathedral, New York | Metropolitan Joseph

In Canada, the Bulgarian patriarchal diocese claimed the following parishes : in Toronto, Ontario : Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Cathedral ; Saint Dimitar Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church ; Saint George Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church ; Holy Trinity Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church ; in Aurora, Ontario : Holy Ascension Orthodox Church ; in Huntsville, Ontario : Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission ; in Montreal, Quebec : Saint Ivan Rilsky Eglise Orthodoxe Bulgare.

In 2006, Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) wrote an article in the magazine "Mirna" which was reproduced on the web-site Orthodoxy, Bulgaria, in which he gave an honest overview to the Orthodox people in Bulgaria about the state of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the West, in particular in the "Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia". He reported that

 The crowning accomplishment of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the West was our common unanimous decision at the 
 Thirty-first Annual Diocesan Assembly in July, 2006 : 
 From now on, all we Orthodox Bulgarians (the clergy and lay-people) intend truly to love God, to keep His commandments, 
 and to practice in our lives the following seven rules and seven spiritual expressions of mercy :
 1. Advise those who have fallen into sin.
 2. Engage the indifferent.
 3. Strengthen the hesitating.
 4. Pray for your neighbours.
 5. Comfort the mourners.
 6. Bear patiently any wrongdoings.
 7. Heal injuries. 
 
 We took the duty not to abandon the physical deeds of mercy :
 1. Feed the hungry.
 2. Relieve the thirsty.
 3. Dress the naked.
 4. Release the prisoners.
 5. Shelter the homeless.
 6. Bury the dead.
 7. Visit the sick.
 
 Finally, he asked of all : 'Let the light of the Orthodox Bulgarians in the West shine visibly, and may all who see 
 our good deeds in the United States, Canada and Australia glorify the God of Heaven and confess with us Bulgarians 
 the Orthodox Christian Faith on earth'.

Accusations about collaboration with the former Communist government, 2008

By 2008 (following a perusal of government archives), there arose accusations in Bulgaria that Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) had formerly collaborated with the Communist Bulgarian Secret Service.

Taking advantage of his right to familiarise himself with his previously secret state file, Metropolitan Joseph found that he was listed as an informant for the special services of socialist Bulgaria from 1980 to 1988, although he was not fully aware of that. It is important to keep in mind that such secret service files (as in other countries of the former USSR) were not required to be truthful, and they are not trustworthy. However, it was also impossible to avoid any connexion at all with the governing authorities. Despite inaccuracies, Metropolitan Joseph decided to respond.

Open letter of repentance. 2009

In June, 2009, Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) published the information received by him about his record in open letters. In his address to the Bulgarian people, he asked for forgiveness from all whom he had harmed in his contacts with the State Security authorities before 1989. Thus, he became the first Bulgarian clergyman to acknowledge publicly his ties to the secret services of the Communist regime. In accordance with his previous promises, he therefore announced that he would resign and retire to a monastery.

On 15 July, 2008, there appeared in "Pravoslavie.bg" the written, public confession of his whole life by Bishop Joseph which he made to his fellow Bulgarians (and because of the internet, to the world). It was entitled "Forgive me, O Bulgarian people". In the course of this writing, he gave details regarding the "interview" methods of the secret service. Such things are confirmed through the writings of many others who suffered similarly in other countries during the Communist period.

On 1 December, 2009, having received this letter of resignation, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Church of Bulgaria decided not to accept his resignation. Instead, the Holy Synod commended his archpastoral work in North America, and the bishops urged him to continue his service there.

Vicar-Bishop Daniel (Nikolov), 2010

On 15 June, 2010, by a decision of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Bishop Daniel (Nikolov) of Dragovitsa was assigned to serve as Vicar-Bishop to Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) of the Bulgarian Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia.

On 27 November, 2012, Metropolitan Joseph was assigned by the Holy Synod of Bulgaria as the spokesman for the Patriarchal Church council election.

On 15 February, 2013, at the meeting of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Joseph was assigned to serve as the chairman of the Central Commission for the Preparation of the Electoral Council. The purpose of the commission was to nominate 3 candidates for the patriarchal throne after the repose of Patriarch Maxim (Minkov) on 6 November, 2012. Patriarch Neophyte (Dimitrov) was enthroned on 24 February, 2013.

70 years of age, 2012

As was reported in "INews", Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) marked the 70th anniversary of his birth on the Feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra (6 December).

The published article reported that

 Metropolitan Joseph is famous for his undisputed authority in the Holy Synod, as he has done much to promote and raise 
 the prestige of our native Church in the West.

and that

 On the occasion of the jubilee, the Holy Synod has decided to award with the Order of Saint John of Rila the first degree 
 to His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph for his services to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Medal of the Order of Saint John of Rila

Request for retirement, 2013

On 26 February, 2013, Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) submitted to the Holy Synod a petition for retirement. He advised that Bishop Daniel (Nikolov) had been prepared since 2010 as a candidate to replace him, and that he wanted to return to Bulgaria permanently. He added that very many difficulties had accumulated in the dioceses of the USA, Canada and Australia.

In Chicago, Illinois, the litigation regarding the Bulgarian parish (Saint John of Rila), had been continuing for many years, and it had not been resolved. This litigation concerned to which of the 2 Bulgarian dioceses in the USA the parish belonged. Founded in 1996, it was officially within the Bulgarian Diocese of The Orthodox Church in America, but some people wished the parish to be within the Bulgarian Patriarchate.

Furthermore, he noted that he, the diocesan bishop, had not been able to visit the Bulgarian Church communities for about 20 years (because there was no money to support the travel).

He commented that the obvious successor was his Vicar-Bishop, Bishop Daniel (Nikolov) of Dragovitsa.

There was no published decision forthcoming from the Holy Synod regarding the request.

Since that time, Bishop Joseph (Bosakov) has continued with his archpastoral responsibilities in the Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia.

Transfer of Bishop Daniel, 2018

On 5 February, 2018, Bishop Daniel (Nikolov) was elected to be the Metropolitan of Vidin, Bulgaria. Vidin is a port town on the southern bank of the Danube River in north-western Bulgaria.

Establishment of Saint John the Baptist Monastery in Warwick, Massachusetts, 2018

Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) had, with others, prepared for the establishment of a new monastery in Warwick, Massachusetts. After consultation with Patriarch Neophyte (Dimitrov) of Bulgaria, and with the patriarch's blessing, arrangements were made.

On 16 August, 2018, with the blessing of Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov), Metropolitans Serafim (Dinkov) of Nevrokop, Grigorii (Tsvetkov) of Vratsa, and Daniel (Nikolov) of Vidin, arrived in Boston, Massachusetts together with Archimandrite Epifaniy. They arrived for the purpose of participating in the establishment of the new Saint John the Baptist Monastery in Warwick, Massachusetts. They first travelled to the monastery, where 2 monks were tonsured. Then they travelled to Boston, where, from 25-28 August, the two monks were ordained first to the Holy Diaconate, and then to the Holy Priesthood.

Ordinations of monks, 2018

Visitation to Indianapolis, Indiana, 2019

On 2-3 November, 2019, Metropolitan Joseph visited the parish of the "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Icon of the Theotokos in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the occasion of the patronal feast-day. Vladyka Joseph presided at the Saturday evening Vigil, and at the Sunday Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.

At the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Joseph raised Archpriest Stevan Bauman to the dignity of Ikonom (one of the highest possible), and he installed Priest John Miller as the rector of the Joy of All Who Sorrow parish. He had already been serving there as assistant priest for some years.

Metropolitan Joseph at Joy of All Who Sorrow parish, 2019

Metropolitan Joseph with parishioners and guests

Covid-19 disruptions, 2020-2021

In 2020-2021, the Covid-19 virus arrived in North America. With it and its treatment as a pandemic came repeated and prolonged closures and/or limited permitted attendance in the Temples everywhere on the continent, although every region had its own version of the requirements. International travel to and from the USA was restricted or prohibited to Canada and Mexico, and there were many other restrictions during this time. Most international travel became almost impossible for a time. The various Orthodox Christian administrations adopted directions to their Faithful that often differed from one another.

— Bishop of Velich 1980-1988. Preceded by : Metropolitan Simeon (Popov). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Kyril (Kovachev).

— Second Vicar-bishop of Sofia 1980-1982.

— First Vicar-bishop of Sofia 1982-1983.

— Vicar-Bishop of Akron 1983-1986.

— Bishop of Akron 1986-1989. Preceded by : Bishop Gelasi (Mihailov) (as Metropolitan of New York). Succeeded by : ____.

— Metropolitan of the United States and Australia 1989-2001. Preceded by : Bishop Gelasi (Mihailov) (as Metropolitan of New York). Succeeded by :____.

— Metropolitan of the United States, Canada and Australia 2001-2013. (title changed)

Reflections

When Metropolitan Joseph (Bosakov) arrived in North America, he was faced with the task of trying to rebuild a diocese which had, in effect, no resources. Without complaint, and in living an exemplary life, he set about his work as a diligent pastor. Slowly, he gathered the stray sheep, and steadily he nurtured them. He encouraged the establishment of new communities as well.

Just as many other Orthodox Christian pastors during the 20th century, Metropolitan Joseph had been forced in his earlier years into an unwilling collaboration with the communist-atheist civil authorities who governed his homeland at the time. He was not a willing collaborator, and as others, he did so as minimally as possible. However, for the survival of the Church (which in Albania was obliterated), he and other pastors did what they could to keep the faithful rational sheep of Christ together until such a time as they could return to normal life. In 2006, his public confession with regard to this fact, and his request for forgiveness from the people is a clear indication of his personal humility and of his pastoral example.

When he mentioned in a report that he had not been able to visit the parishes properly for many years, this was due very much to the penury of the diocese, and that he did not have the resources to travel.

In 2020, Metropolitan Joseph published a book in Bulgarian (based on the content of his doctoral thesis), entitled "Examples of Pastoral Ministry in Russia in the 18th and 20th Centuries".

An announcement about the book indicates that

 Metropolitan Joseph's research covers the pastoral work of Russian clergymen who during three centuries, but their 
 ministry dedicated to the salvation of human souls and their direction to the Kingdom of God does not depend on time.

It also indicates that

 The book presents bright personalities from the church history of Russia - metropolitans, bishops, priests, known 
 for their holy life, fruitful work and great influence on believers.  However, the author emphasises the peculiarities 
 of their pastoral activity, looking for the common features of each good pastor, and pointing out the characteristic 
 features of the individual clergy, described in the book.

Awards

Order of Saint John of Rila, 1st degree, 2012 (Holy Synod)

References

Wyrwoll, Nikolaus ed., “Orthodoxia 2014-2015" (Regensburg : Ostkirchliches Institut, 2015). ISBN 978-7245-1959-1.

Orthodoxwiki biography

Drevo biography

Wikipedia biography

Additional information :

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church web-site

Offical homepage of the Bulgarian Holy Synod

History of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Wikipedia article about the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Bulgaria

Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia web-site

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America article about the Bulgarian Diocese

Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov)

Patriarch Maxim (Minkov)

Patriarch Neopyte (Dimitrov

Metropolitan Serafim (Dinkov)

Metropolitan Grigorii (Tsvetkov)