Apostolic Exarchate of Sofia (Byzantine)

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Bishop(s) Christo Proykov, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Apostolic Exarchate Erected: 1926 Rite: Byzantine Country: Bulgaria Mailing Address: ul. Liulin Planina 5, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria Telephone: (02)953.04.06 Fax: 952.61.86

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Kyril Stefan Kurteff † (31 Jul 1926 Appointed - 1942 Resigned)
• Ivan Garufaloff, C. R. † (6 Jul 1942 Appointed - 7 Aug 1951 Died)
• Kyril Stefan 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 - )

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Historical Summary

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

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Statistics

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

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

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