The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia had its origins before World War II as the
Bulgarian Diocese of North and South America and Australia. However, a result of the establishment of a Communist government in Bulgaria after the war, relations of the diocese with the Church of Bulgaria were disrupted. Under Metropolitan
Andrew (Petkov), the diocese attempted, in the late 1950s, to join the
Metropolia but was unsuccessful. In 1964, Metropolitan Andrew petitioned the
Holy Synod of the Church of Bulgaria for his return to the Bulgarian episcopacy and to continue to lead the diocese in America. With the return of Metropolitan Andrew and his diocese to the Church of Bulgaria, a group under Archimandrite
Kyrill (Yonchev) broke with Andrew and joined the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) as the
Bulgarian Diocese in Exile. The ROCOR bishops
consecrated him
bishop. The Metropolitan Andrew's diocese is currently led by Metropolitan
Joseph (Bosakov) with
parishes in the United States, Canada, and Australia as an overseas diocese of the Church of Bulgaria under
Patriarch Daniil and the
Holy Synod of Bishops. The diocesan
cathedral is Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Cathedral in New York, USA. The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia was a member of the
Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas until its replacement by the
Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, where it is now a member. ==List of Parishes==