Bulgarian hierarch suffers traffic accident in New York

Bulgarian Metropolitan Joseph of the USA, Canada and Australia. Photo: Bulgarian Orthodox Church

In New York, Bulgarian Metropolitan Joseph of the USA, Canada and Australia suffered a traffic accident, in which he was hit by a car. Immediately after the accident, he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he underwent the necessary medical examinations and was admitted for treatment, reports the Chancellery of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia.

The incident occurred on August 7, 2026. For an entire day, the diocesan administration searched unsuccessfully for their archpastor. Hospital staff had erroneously registered the bishop in the hospital database under his patronymic instead of his surname. Due to this confusion, search queries by the hierarch's name yielded no results.

Later, the New York Police Department helped the diocesan leadership determine the exact whereabouts of the injured metropolitan and reestablish contact with him.

The hierarch escaped serious injuries; as a result of the accident, Metropolitan Joseph sustained a fracture of the little toe on his left foot and underwent a successful surgery. Metropolitan Joseph is currently feeling well, and his condition is stable. Doctors assess the progress of his recovery as encouraging and plan to discharge the patient in the near future.

The diocesan leadership expressed deep gratitude to the clergy and laity for their prayerful support. The Chancellery also called upon the faithful to continue praying for the swift and complete recovery of Metropolitan Joseph.

As the UOJ reported, a monk of the Skete of the Mother of God was killed in a traffic accident on Athos.

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