The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is currently in the process of electing a new Metropolitan for the diocese of Sliven. The Bulgarian Patriarchate has already identified two candidates for the position, according to the official statement from the Bulgarian Patriarchate.

The election of the Metropolitan occurs in two stages. Initially, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church approved ten candidates deemed worthy of election. These candidates met the criteria outlined in the Church's constitution, including monastic experience of at least three years, a higher theological education, and a minimum of ten years of service in the clergy. Additionally, candidates must be between the ages of 35 and 70 and should not have faced church trial convictions.

On February 18, the electoral college, comprising clergy and parishioners of the Sliven diocese, voted for their preferred candidates. The chosen candidates are Bishop Ierotei of Agathopolis and Bishop Mikhail of Konstantia. The Holy Synod will review the election results on February 24, and the final decision will be announced on February 25.

The previous head of the Sliven diocese, Metropolitan Ioannikiy (Nedelchev), passed away in January at the age of 84. Following his death, Metropolitan Ioann of Varna and Veliki Preslav assumed the duties as the interim locum tenens of the Sliven throne.