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His Eminence Metropolitan '''Joseph (Bosakov) ''' was the diocesan prelate ruling hierarch of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox [[Diocese ]] of the USA, Canada, and Australia.He was born Ivan Blagoev, on December 6, 1942 in under the [[jurisdiction]] of the village [[Church of SlavovitsaBulgaria]], Pazardzhikfrom 1986 until he submitted his resignation on [[February 26]], Bulgaria2013.

== Biography Life ==Metr. Joseph was born Ivan Blagoev Bosakov, on [[December 6]], 1942 in the village of Slavovitsa, Pazardzhik, Bulgaria. From 1956 to 1961 - he , Ivan was enrolled as a student of the Sofia [[Seminary]]. In 1970 After his graduation in 1961, he graduated from the continued his theological education at St. Kliment Ohridski Theological Academy in Sofia Ecclesiastical Academy, graduating in 1970.

On [[April 12]], 1970 he , Ivan entered Troyan Monastery and was tonsured as [[tonsure]]d a [[monk ]] by Metropolitan Lovchanski [[Maxim (Patriarch Minkov) of Bulgaria) |Maxim]] of Lovech, with the name Joseph in honor of the righteous [[Joseph of Arimathea | Joseph of Arimathea ]]. On [[May 3 of that year ]], 1970, he was [[ordination|ordained ]] [[deacon ]] by Metropolitan Lovchanski Metr. Maxim. On [[December 27of the same year he 27]], 1970, Dcn. Joseph was ordained to the rank of a [[priest]] and was appointed protosyngellos of [[Diocese]] of Lovech. After Metr. Maxim was [[enthronement|enthroned]] as Patriarch of Bulgaria, Father Joseph was appointed [[protosyngellos]] of the Diocese of Sofia in July 1971.

From On [[October 10]], 1971, Fr. Joseph was assigned by the Bulgarian [[Holy Synod]] to conduct specialist theological studies at [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]]. After defending his doctoral thesis, and with the blessing of the Patr. Maxim, Fr. Joseph was raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] by Patriarch [[Pimen (Izvekov) of Moscow|Pimen on [[July 1971 21]], 1973. After returning to Bulgaria, he served resumed his duties as protosyngellos of the Diocese of Sofia.,

From 10 October 1971On [[December 7]], at 1980, Archim. Joseph was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Velichskogo and appointed second [[vicar]] of the Diocese of Sofia. On [[March 24]], 1981, Bishop Joseph was appointed [[abbot]] of Troyan Monastery, and on [[June 1]], 1982 he became the direction first vicar of the Holy Synod he passed specialization in Moscow Theological AcademyDiocese of Sofia.

On July 21[[April 1]], 19731983, after defending his doctoral thesisBishop Joseph was appointed to lead the Bulgarian Diocese of Akron in the United States, and on [[April 17]], 1986, he was formally elected Bishop of Akron. On [[December 18]], 1989, with the blessing Holy Synod of the Patriarch Church of Bulgaria decided to restore the unified Bulgarian Maxim American and Australian diocese that had existed until 1969. The next day, [[December 19]], 1989, Bp. Joseph was elected Metropolitan of the US and Australia. By the decision of the Fifth Assembly of the Church and Laity, held in Sofia on [[December 17]], 2001, he was elevated by Patriarch named Metropolitan of Moscow the US, Canada, and All Russia Pimen to Australia with the rank of a archimadrite[[see|seat]] in New York City.

On his return to Bulgaria [[November 27]], 2012, Metropolitan Joseph was again appointed by the Holy Synod as protosyngellos the spokesman on the Patriarchal church council election. On [[February 15]], 2013 at the meeting of the Diocese Holy Synod Metr. Joseph was appointed Chairman of the Central Commission, the purpose of which was to nominate three candidates for the patriarchal throne after the repose of SofiaPatr. Maxim on [[November 6]], 2012.

Late February 2013, Metr. Joseph submitted a petition for retirement. He was consecrated advised that he had prepared a candidate as a replacement and wants to the rank of bishop on December 7, 1980 and appointed second vicar of Velichskogo of the Diocese of Sofiareturn to Bulgaria permanently.

On March 24{{start box}}{{succession|before=?|title=Bishop of Velichskogo<br>vicar Diocese of Sofia|years=1980 - 1983|after=?}}{{succession|before=?|title=Bishop of Velichskogo<br>vicar Diocese of Akron|years=1983 - 1986|after=?}}{{succession|before=?|title=Bishop of Akron|years=1986 - 1989|after=?}}{{succession|before=?|title=Metropolitan of the US and Australia|years=1989 - 2001|after=?}}{{succession|before=?|title=Metropolitan of the US, 1981 he was appointed superior at Troyan Monastery.Canada, and Australia|years=2001 - 2013|after=?}}{{end box}}

On April 1==Source==*[http://sofiaglobe.com/2013/02/26/bulgarian-orthodox-church-metropolitan-joseph-of-the-us-canada-and-australia-resigns/ Sofia Globe: Bulgarian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Joseph, 1983 he was appointed head of Akronskoy Diocese the US, Canada and on April 17Australia, 1986 approved as its Metropolitan.resigns]

On December 19, 1989 the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church merged the New York and Akronskoy Diocese Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia. Since then Metropolitan Joseph served as its ruling bishop as Metropolitan with seat in New York. He published in the Bulgarian church periodical series a number of articles on Church Public Affairs.[[Category: Bishops]]On February 15, 2013 at the meeting [[Category: Bishops of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church he was appointed Chairman of the Central Commission. The main purpose of this synod was to determine the three candidates for the patriarchal throne. Velichskogo]]At the end [[Category: Bishops of February 2013, he filed a petition for retirement. Metropolitan Joseph notified that he has prepared a candidate for a place and wants to return to live permanently in Bulgaria.Akron]]