Metropolitan Simeon was born on September 17, 1926. He graduated from the Sofia Theological Faculty and the Moscow Theological Academy. He was tonsured a monk on December 6, 1954. He was ordained a deacon on February 12, 1955. He was ordained to the priesthood on October 8, 1958. He was elevated to the office of archimandrite on November 1, 1961. He was consecrated Bishop of Glavinitza, Vicar of the Metropolitanate of New York, on January 14, 1973. He became the Patriarchal Vicar of Western Europe in 1980. In 1986, he was elevated to Metropolitan of Western Europe. He became Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe in 1994.