The outgoing Council of Ministers declared March 15 and 16 as days of national mourning to pay tribute to the memory of Neophyte, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, the Government press service reported here on Thursday.
At an extraordinary meeting here on Wednesday, the Holy Synod decided that Neophyte’s mortal remains will lie in state in the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Friday morning. A prayer service will be held on Saturday morning, which will then be followed by a procession to St. Nedelya Cathedral in Sofia.
The spokesperson of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Cyprian, Metropolitan of Stara Zagora, said that Neophyte will be interred at St. Nedelya Cathedral on Saturday.
Ioan, Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav, has temporarily assumed the functions of head of the Holy Synod, Cyprian said. Electing another person to that office is scheduled for March 19 or 20. Electing a new Bulgarian Patriarch should take place within the next four months, Cyprian told BTA.
The death of the Head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is a huge loss for the Church and the Bulgarian people, President Rumen Radev said in a post on Facebook shortly after the Patriarchate announced the death of Patriarch Neophyte.
He was 78. He died in hospital of multiorgan failure after a long illness.
“I bow my head with deep sorrow in memory of His Holiness Neophyte, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia,” the President wrote.
“With his dedicated spiritual service to God and Orthodoxy, Patriarch Neophyte established himself as a pillar of the Bulgarian nation and our State. May God forgive him and rest his soul! Eternal and blessed be his memory,” the post goes.
Outgoing Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov wrote in a Facebook post that Patriarch Neophyte will be remembered as a wise and kind spiritual leader. The head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church died in a Sofia hospital late on Wednesday of multiorgan failure after a long illness. He was 78.
Denkov wrote: “It is with deep sorrow that we send His Holiness Neophyte – Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia – on his heavenly way. He will be remembered as a wise and kind spiritual leader who gave faith and strength to the laity even when he was physically weak himself.”
Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel, who is the likely next Bulgarian Prime Minister, wrote on social media: “We will remember his guidance to a life in faith and piety, and to achieving unity.”
The Chief Mufti Office in Bulgaria offered their condolences for the passing of Patriarch Neophyte and said he will be remembered for his empathy and respect for the religious communities in this country.
“He will remain in our memory as an exceptionally good man and a spiritual leader who sought dialogue. The Muslim denomination will remember him for his empathy and respect for the religious communities in the country, seeking consensus for the sake of accord, morals, upbringing and traditional values that we have defended together”, the Chief Mufti Office said in a Facebook post
