Bishop Cyril Kurtev was born into an Orthodox family in the Dripchevo village (today in Haskovo Province).
On 1 June 1914 Kurtev was ordained a priest by Bishop Michael Petkov in the Cathedral of Saint Elias in Edirne.
In the spring of 1924 he became assistant of Josaphat Kozarov, administrator of Greek Catholics in Bulgaria.
On 23 September 1925 Mirov was appointed Acting Administrator of Bulgarian Exarchate of the Greek Catholics.
On 25 July 1926 by Pope Pius XII he was appointed bishop, and the ordination took place on December 5, 1925 at the Cathedral of Saint Clement in Rome.