Apostolic Exarchate of Sofia (Bulgarian)

Sophiae

Bishop(s)

Christo Proykov, Apostolic Exarch

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Apostolic Exarchate
Erected: 1926
Immediately Subject to the Holy See
Bulgarian Catholic Church of the Byzantine Tradition
Country: Bulgaria
Official Web Site: http://www.kae-bg.org/
Mailing Address: ul. Liulin Planina 5, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria
Telephone: (02)953.04.06
Fax: 952.61.86

Past and Present Ordinaries

Kyril Stefan (Nikola) Kurteff † (31 Jul 1926 Appointed - 30 May 1941 Resigned)
Ivan Dimitrov Garufaloff, C. R. † (6 Jul 1942 Appointed - 7 Aug 1951 Died)
Kyril Stefan (Nikola) Kurteff † (27 Apr 1951 Appointed - 9 Mar 1971 Died)
Metodi Dimitrov Stratiev, A.A. † (9 Mar 1971 Succeeded - 5 Sep 1995 Retired)
Christo Proykov (5 Sep 1995 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
1926	Erected		Apostolic Exarchate of Sofia (Bulgarian) (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1969 8,500,000 .0% 8 8 0 21 20 ap1981

1988 15,000 12 8 20 750 16 40 18 ap1991

1999 15,000 6 10 16 937 10 39 20 ap2000

2000 15,000 5 10 15 1,000 10 40 20 ap2001

2001 15,000 5 12 17 882 14 40 20 ap2002

2002 15,000 5 13 18 833 15 40 10 ap2003

2003 10,000 5 14 19 526 14 40 10 ap2004

2004 10,000 6 15 21 476 15 40 21 ap2005

2009 10,000 5 16 21 476 20 38 21 ap2010

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1969		8,500,000	.0%	8		8	0		21	20	ap1981
1988	15,000			12	8	20	750	16	40	18	ap1991
1999	15,000			6	10	16	937	10	39	20	ap2000
2000	15,000			5	10	15	1,000	10	40	20	ap2001
2001	15,000			5	12	17	882	14	40	20	ap2002
2002	15,000			5	13	18	833	15	40	10	ap2003
2003	10,000			5	14	19	526	14	40	10	ap2004
2004	10,000			6	15	21	476	15	40	21	ap2005
2009	10,000			5	16	21	476	20	38	21	ap2010

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Christo Proykov (Priest: 23 May 1971; Coadjutor Apostolic Exarch: 18 Dec 1993; Apostolic Exarch: 5 Sep 1995)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Ivan Dimitrov Garufaloff, C. R. † (Apostolic Exarch: 6 Jul 1942 to 7 Aug 1951)
Kyril Stefan (Nikola) Kurteff † (Apostolic Exarch: 31 Jul 1926 to 30 May 1941)
Metodi Dimitrov Stratiev, A.A. † (Coadjutor Apostolic Exarch: 28 Apr 1963; Apostolic Exarch: 9 Mar 1971 to 5 Sep 1995)