Clergy
Fr. Trayan
Fr Trayan was born on December 11, 1969, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He completed degrees in both Economics (1992–1996) and Theology (1996–2001), following a deepening sense of spiritual calling. In December 2001, he was ordained first as a deacon (December 27) and then as a priest (December 30) by Metropolitan Dometian of Vidin.
He began his pastoral ministry in Brusartsi, a small town in northwestern Bulgaria, serving from 2002 to 2003. He was then assigned to Dragoinovo, a small village in the Diocese of Plovdiv, where he ministered until 2005. He returned to Brusartsi and continued his priestly service there until 2010.
On July 20, 2010, Fr Trayan moved to the United Kingdom, where he devoted himself to caring for people in practical ways—working as a carer and delivering pizzas—while continuing to seek clarity regarding his ecclesiastical status. For a period of five years, he was regarded as a priest of the Western European Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
In 2019, on the Feast of Pentecost, Fr Trayan began serving liturgically in Torquay, offering pastoral care and spiritual leadership to Orthodox faithful in the area. In 2024, he was officially recognized as the priest in charge of the growing local parish.
Fr Trayan continues his ministry in a spirit of humility and faithfulness, trusting that the Lord guides each step—even when ecclesiastical paperwork takes its time to catch up. He is deeply loved by his parishioners and respected by the hierarchs who know him well.
Our Jurisdiction
The Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain is an archdiocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The incumbent archeparch is Archbishop Nikitas. Its jurisdiction covers those Orthodox Christians living in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. The adherents are largely of Cypriot Greek descent, mainland Greek migrants and their descendants, and more recently native British converts along with a few Poles, Belarusians, and Ukrainians. The episcopal seat is the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom (also known as Saint Sophia's) which is situated in London.