New abbot elected for Zografou Monastery on Mount Athos

Hieromonk Gavriil (Karatotev). Photo: UOJ

On April 12, 2025, Lazarus Saturday, a new abbot was elected at the Bulgarian Monastery of St. George in Zografou on Mount Athos. According to the Bulgarian edition of the UOJ website, the newly elected abbot is Hieromonk Gavriil (Karatotev).

The results of the election will be sent to the Holy Kinot – the highest administrative authority of the monastic republic of Athos.

“If no appeal is submitted, the Holy Kinot will send a letter to the Ecumenical Patriarchate requesting confirmation of the election. Once this is done, a special delegation – including the Protos of the Holy Mountain (this year Elder Simeon of Dionysiou), a representative of the Great Lavra, and delegates from neighboring monasteries such as Konstamonitou, Vatopedi, Esphigmenou, and Hilandar, as well as other fathers and officials – will conduct the enthronement of the newly elected abbot. The abbatial staff will be presented by the representative of the Great Lavra,” explained Archimandrite Nicanor, abbot of Gigintsi Monastery.

Fr. Gavriil, born Georgi Karatotev on December 11, 1973, in Sofia, came to the holy monastery of Zografou on December 20, 1997. Exactly one year later, on December 20, 1998, he was tonsured a monk. On October 24, 2003, he was ordained a hieromonk.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the monks of Mount Athos have condemned the desecration of relics at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

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