Patriarch Maxim (Maximus) ( bg, Патриарх Максим) (Marin Naydenov Minkov, October 29, 1914 – November 6, 2012) was the head of the

Bulgarian Orthodox Church The Bulgarian Orthodox Church ( bg, Българска православна църква, translit=Balgarska pravoslavna tsarkva), legally the Patriarchate of Bulgaria ( bg, Българска патриаршия, links=no, translit=Balgarsk ...

from 1971 until his death. He was born in

Oreshak Oreshak may refer to: *Oreshak, Lovech Province, Bulgaria *Oreshak, Varna Province, Bulgaria *Oreshak Peak Oreshak Peak ( bg, връх Орешак, vrah Oreshak, ) is the peak rising to 2829 mTroyan Monastery and then studied Orthodox Theology at Sofia University, from which he graduated in 1935 with honours. In 1942 he graduated from the Saint Clement of Ochrid State University of Sofia. He took Holy Orders in 1941 and became secretary general of the Holy Synod in 1955 and titular bishop of ''Branit'' on December 30, 1956. In 1960, he was elected Metropolitan of Lovech on October 30, 1960, and won the election as Patriarch on July 4, 1971, after Patriarch Kyril died. In the early 1990s, a split in the Bulgarian Church was stimulated by the government of the Union of Democratic Forces, based on the alleged cooperation and affiliation of Maxim with the former regime. However, Maxim was able to take control of the majority of the parishes and to prevent any schismatic threats within the Church. The faction against Maxim formed the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Alternative synod. Maxim of Bulgaria 2011 1

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maxim (Patriarch) 1914 births 2012 deaths People from Troyan Patriarchs of Bulgaria Christian Peace Conference members Sofia University alumni