I will not be Patriarch. This I can declare, and you have no idea who will be the Patriarch," Metropolitan Nikolai of Plovdiv said in Burgas. The comment was made two days after Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe said that no document had been received from Nikolai of Plovdiv renouncing his participation in the Patriarchal election.

"The Holy Scripture says that your word should be 'yes' or 'no', there is no 'abstention'. If you ask me if I will become Patriarch, my word is 'no'," said the Metropolitan. This was the cleric's answer to the question of whether he had written to the Holy Synod stating his refusal to stand in the election for the Patriarch of Bulgaria. "I wrote an address, which I signed. I told the Holy Synod what I have to say and I think that is enough," added Nikolai of Plovdiv. 

The election of the Patriarch will take place on 30 June, when the Patriarchal Election Council has been convened.