Under Metr. Andrei (Petkov), the diocese attempted, in the late
1950s, to join the Metropolia but was unsuccessful.
In
1964, Metr. Andrei 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 Metr. Andrei and his diocese to the Church of Bulgaria, a group under Archimandrite Kyrill (Yonchev) broke with Metr. Andrei and joined the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (
ROCOR) as the Bulgarian Diocese in Exile. The ROCOR bishops consecrated him bishop. Later the Bulgarian Diocese in Exile became part of the
Orthodox Church in America.
The diocese is currently led by Metr. Joseph with parishes in the United States, Canada, and Australia as an overseas diocese of the
Church of Bulgaria under Patriarch Maxim and the Bulgarian Synod of Bishops. The diocesan cathedral is Ss Cyril and Methody Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City. The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia is a member of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (
SCOBA).
The diocese is led by Metropolitan Joseph.
