On Lazarus Saturday, the brotherhood of the Bulgarian Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos elected Hieromonk Gavriil (Karatotev) as the new abbot of the monastery. The election was reported by the official website of the Bulgarian Patriarchate.

A total of 31 monks with voting rights participated in the election, in accordance with the monastery’s internal regulations. Only hieromonks who had been members of the brotherhood for at least six years were eligible to stand as candidates. To be elected, a candidate needed to secure at least 16 votes.

Following the vote, the results will be submitted to the Holy Community (Kinot) of Mount Athos and then require approval by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Upon confirmation, a formal enthronement ceremony will be organized, led by representatives of the Holy Mountain including this year’s Protos, Simeon of Dionysiou, as well as delegations from the Great Lavra and neighboring monasteries such as Konstamonitou, Vatopedi, Esphigmenou, and Hilandar. During the enthronement, a representative of the Great Lavra will present the new abbot with the pastoral staff, formally elevating him to the rank of archimandrite.

Hieromonk Gavriil was born on December 11, 1973, in Sofia, Bulgaria. He arrived on Mount Athos on December 20, 1997, and took his monastic vows exactly one year later. He was ordained a hieromonk in 2003.

Founded in the 10th century, the Zograf Monastery holds a central place in the Bulgarian Orthodox presence on Mount Athos and ranks ninth in the Athonite monastic hierarchy. Known for its deep spiritual legacy, the monastery has produced many saints, including Saint Cosmas of Zograf and 26 monastic martyrs. The abbot of Zograf holds the eleventh position among the abbots of the Holy Mountain.

The previous abbot, Schema-Archimandrite Ambrosiy, passed away in January 2025.