Stefan I of Bulgaria

Born Stoyan Popgeorgiev Shokov in the village of Shiroka Laka in 1878, Stefan I of Bulgaria evolved from a local teacher and revolutionary committee member into a pivotal figure of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. His career spanned decades of national turbulence, culminating in his leadership as Exarch and international recognition for his wartime humanitarian efforts.

Ecclesiastical Formation and Rise

After primary schooling in his birthplace and studies at the Samokov Theological Seminary, Shokov completed his education at the Kiev Theological Academy, graduating as a candidate of theology. He entered monastic life in 1910, adopting the name Stefan. By 1911, he held the rank of archimandrite. His early career included teaching in Plovdiv and Constantinople, followed by theological specialization in Geneva and a doctorate from the University of Fribourg.

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Metropolitan of Sofia

In 1922, Stefan was elected Metropolitan of Sofia, a position he held for twenty-six years. During the interwar period, he engaged heavily in the ecumenical movement and represented his church at international conferences. He worked to resolve the 1872 schism affecting the Bulgarian Exarchate. In 1925, he officiated at the funeral service held in Sveta Nedelya church following the coordinated assassination attempt occurring there.

Wartime Leadership and Exile

In 1943, Stefan took part in the movement to prevent the deportation of Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War. He later became Exarch of Bulgaria in 1945, presiding over the lifting of the church schism that same year. His opposition to communist interference in ecclesiastical affairs led to his forced resignation in 1948. He spent his final years interned in the village of Banya, where he died in 1957.