Lovech Metropolitan Gavriil is on a ventilator. He is being treated for acute pancreatitis at the Military Medical Academy in Sofia, where he was admitted on Wednesday, 4 November.

His condition has improved somewhat since yesterday, Bulgarian Patriarch and Sofia Metropolitan Daniil said this morning.

The patriarch spoke to journalists at the Assumption of the Virgin Mary monastery in Troyan, before leading memorial services for Patriarch Maxim, who died 14 years ago. He asked all Orthodox Christians to offer a heartfelt prayer to God for the bishop.

"Father Gavriil is a worthy bishop, and may God extend his days, give him health, and let him serve longer in health and piety," Patriarch Daniil added.

The Bulgarian Patriarchate posted a statement on the metropolitan's health on its website late yesterday evening, after receiving inquiries. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church said the doctors treating him are giving him all the care he needs to recover. The patriarchate called on believers to pray for his healing and quick recovery.

Metropolitan Gavriil, whose secular name is Tsvetan Metodiev Dinev, was born in Sofia on 16 July 1950. He was canonically elected Metropolitan of Lovech on 28 January 2001.