Diocese of Sofia–Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Continent: East Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Sofia–Plovdiv / София–Пловдив (български език) / Sofia e Filippopoli (Italiano) / Sophiæ et Philippopolis (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

200: Established as Diocese of Sofia / Sardica
1601: Restored as Diocese of Sofia / Sardica (became suffragan of Bar)
1642.12.06: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sofia / Sardica
1648: Gained suffragan see Nikopol
1758: Demoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Sofia–Plovdiv / София–Пловдив (български език) / Sofia e Filippopoli (Italiano) / Sophiæ et Philippopolis (Latin)
1835: Lost territory to establish Titular Metropolitan See of Sardica
1979.03.03: Promoted as Diocese of Sofia–Plovdiv / София–Пловдив (български език) / Sofia e Filippopoli (Italiano) / Sophiæ et Philippopolis (Latin) (gained territory from the suppressed Titular Metropolitan See of Serdica and without ecclesiastical province)

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Bishop (1995.11.13 – ...):

Bishop Gheorghi Ivanov Jovčev (74)

Auxiliary Bishop (2020.09.05 – ...):

Bishop Rumen Ivanov Stanev (51)

Titular Bishop of Simidicca

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Bulgaria

Ordinaries

Bishops of Sofia–Plovdiv (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gheorghi Ivanov Jovčev (74)
(1995.11.13 – ...)

Bishop of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

Mihi vivere Christus est

Born:	1950.05.09 (Sekirovo Rakovski, Bulgaria)
Ordained Priest:	1976.05.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.07.31

Priest of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1976.05.09 – 1988.07.06)

Titular Bishop of Lamphua (1988.07.06 – 1995.11.13)

Apostolic Administrator of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1988.07.06 – 1995.11.13)

Bishop of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1995.11.13 – ...)

Bishop Gheorghi Ivanov Jovčev (74)
(Apostolic Administrator 1988.07.06 – 1995.11.13)

Bishop Bogdan Stefanov Dobranov
(1978.12.14 – 1983.10.04)

Born:	1914.12.01 (Romania)
Ordained Priest:	1940.03.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.11.08
Died:	1983.10.04 († 68)

Titular Bishop of Giufi (1959.10.10 – 1978.12.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1975.07.22 – 1978.12.14)

Bishop of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1978.12.14 – 1983.10.04)

Vicars Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Roman Rite)

Bishop Bogdan Stefanov Dobranov
(1975.07.22 – 1978.12.14)

(see above)

Bishop Simeon Kokov (Kokoff), O.F.M. Cap.
(Apostolic Administrator 1958.04.20 – 1974.07.11)

Bishop Ivan Romanoff
(1942.07.06 – 1953.01.08)

Born:	1878.09.10 (Rakovski, Bulgaria)
Ordained Priest:	1901.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1942.10.04
Died:	1953.01.08 (Shumen, Bulgaria † 74)

Titular Bishop of Prizren (1942.07.06 – 1953.01.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1942.07.06 – 1953.01.08)

Bishop. Died in prison.

Bishop Cleto Vincenzo Pejov, O.F.M. Cap.
(1916.10.14 – 1941.11.03)

Born:	1873.11.11
Ordained Priest:	1896
Consecrated Bishop:	1913.03.02
Died:	1941.11.03 († 67)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1912.12.13 – 1916.10.14)

Titular Bishop of Lyrbe (1912.12.13 – 1941.11.03)

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1916.10.14 – 1941.11.03)

Archbishop Roberto Menini, O.F.M. Cap.
(1885.05.05 – 1916.10.14)

Born:	1837.10.18 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1863.07.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1880.02.02
Died:	1916.10.14 († 78)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1880.01.30 – 1885.05.05)

Titular Bishop of Metellopolis (1880.01.30 – 1885.05.19)

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1885.05.05 – 1916.10.14)

Titular Archbishop of Gangra (1885.05.19 – 1916.10.14)

Bishop Francesco Domenico Raynaud, O.F.M. Cap. (later Archbishop)
(1867.12.12 – 1885)

Born:	1808.09.03 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1831
Consecrated Bishop:	1868.03.22
Died:	1893.07.24 († 84)

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1867.12.12 – 1885)

Coadjutor Bishop of Ægeæ (Turkiye) (1867.12.12 – 1885.05.05)

Titular Archbishop of Stauropolis (1885.05.05 – 1893.07.24)

Bishop Andrea Canova, O.F.M. Cap.
(1843.07.15 – 1866.08.09)

Consecrated Bishop:	1848.03.26
Died:	1866.08.09

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1843.07.15 – 1866.08.09)

Titular Bishop of Croia (1847.12.14 – 1866.08.09)

Bishop Andrea Tunus
(1817.07.29 – 1834)

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1817.07.29 – 1834)

Bishop Giorgio Tunus
(1802.12.15 – 1817)

Died:

1817

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1802.12.15 – 1817)

Bishop Nicolò Zilve
(1796.04.29 – 1800.12.13)

Died:

1800.12.13

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1796.04.29 – 1800.12.13)

Bishop Pietro Fabri
(1776.10.02 – 1796)

Died:

1796

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1776.10.02 – 1796)

Bishop-elect Pavel Duvanlija
(1771.07.31 – 1776.09.16)

Ordained Priest:	1756.05.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1777.04.06
Died:	1804.07.06

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1771.07.31 – 1776.09.16)

Bishop of Nikopol (Bulgaria) (1776.09.16 – 1804.07.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Valachie (Romania) (1776.09.16 – 1804.07.06)

Bishop Giorgio Angelo Radovani (later Archbishop)
(1767.04.30 – 1771.07.29)

Died:

1790.11.15

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1767.04.30 – 1771.07.29)

Bishop of Shkodrë (Albania) (1771.07.29 – 1787.04.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bar (Montenegro) (1787.04.23 – 1790.11.15)

Bishop of Budua (Montenegro) (1787.04.27 – 1790.11.15)

Bishop Giuseppe Roverani (later Archbishop)
(1758.12.11 – 1767.03.10)

Died:

1772.07.02

Vicar Apostolic of Sofia–Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (1758.12.11 – 1767.03.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Constantinopole (Turkiye) (1758.12.11 – 1772.07.02)

Titular Archbishop of Marcianopolis (1767.03.10 – 1772.07.02)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Sofia (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Benedetto Zuzzeri
(1754.01.14 – 1758)

Born:	1715.10.07
Ordained Priest:	1748.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1754.06.23

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1754.01.14 – 1758)

Archbishop Nicolò Angelo Radovani
(1743.09.23 – 1752.12.18)

Died:

1774?

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1743.09.23 – 1752.12.18)

Archbishop of Durrës (Albania) (1752.12.18 – 1774?)

Archbishop Marko Andrijašević
(1723.11.20 – 1740.04.24)

Ordained Priest:	1696.01
Died:	1740.04.24

Bishop of Nikopol (Bulgaria) (1717.05.10 – 1723.11.20)

Apostolic Administrator of Valachie (Romania) (1717.05.10 – 1723.11.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1723.11.20 – 1740.04.24)

Archbishop Pavao Joščić, O.F.M.
(1707.11.28 – 1719.07)

Consecrated Bishop:	1708
Died:	1719.07

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1707.11.28 – 1719.07)

Archbishop Stefan Cnezervić, O.F.M. Obs.
(1677.04.05 – 1691.10.28)

Consecrated Bishop:	1677.04.25
Died:	1691.10.28

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1677.04.05 – 1691.10.28)

Archbishop Pavao Coješčić, O.F.M. Obs.
(1675 – 1677)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1675 – 1677)

Archbishop Petăr Bogdan Bakšič, O.F.M. Obs.
(1642.12.06 – ?)

Born:

1632

Titular Bishop of Callipolis (1638.02.13 – 1641.06.15)

Coadjutor Bishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1638.02.13 – 1641.06.15)

Bishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1641.06.15 – 1642.12.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1642.12.06 – ?)

Bishops of Sofia (Roman Rite)

Bishop Petăr Bogdan Bakšič, O.F.M. Obs. (later Archbishop)
(1641.06.15 – 1642.12.06)

(see above)

Bishop Elia Marini, O.F.M. Obs.
(1624.07.29 – 1641.06.15)

Consecrated Bishop:	1624.08.18
Died:	1641.06.15

Bishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1624.07.29 – 1641.06.15)

Bishop Pietro Salinate, O.F.M. Obs.
(1601.09.10 – 1623.04.04)

Died:

1623.04.04

Bishop of Sofia (Bulgaria) (1601.09.10 – 1623.04.04)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Cleto Vincenzo Pejov, O.F.M. Cap. (1912.12.13 – 1916.10.14)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Roberto Menini, O.F.M. Cap. (later Archbishop) (1880.01.30 – 1885.05.05)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Petăr Bogdan Bakšič, O.F.M. Obs. (later Archbishop) (1638.02.13 – 1641.06.15)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Louis of France, Plovdiv (Пловдив), Plovdiv
Co-Cathedral: Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Sofia (София), Sofia
National Shrine: National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Plovdiv (Пловдив), Plovdiv

Churches by City (21)

Thessaloniki (↙), Skopje (←), Beograd (↖), Nikopol (↑), Istanbul (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 80,000 km²

Population: 32,800 Catholics (0.7% of 4,471,900 total)

Pastoral Centres: 14 parishes

Personnel: 20 priests (10 diocesan, 10 religious), 29 religious (13 brothers, 16 sisters)