 In 1993, he tried to enter into communion with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and presented himself to Metropolitan Simeon (Kostadinov), head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Eparchy of Western Europe.Failing to achieve canonical recognition, he turned to the newly formed Alternative Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.In 1995, he became a Bishop of Ravenna and Italy, and in 1997 he was raised to the rank of a Metropolitan of Ravenna and Italy, becoming a member of the Alternative Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, as the head of the autonomous Orthodox Church in Italy.