Today, when it is the second day of mourning in memory of His Holiness Patriarch Neofitus, we will say goodbye to the head of the Bulgarian church, BGNES reported.
From 9:30 a.m., a funeral service will be held for St. Liturgy and funeral service. The mortal remains of the blessed Patriarch will be transported from the Patriarchal Cathedral "St. Alexander Nevsky" to the Metropolitan Cathedral "St. Sunday", where they will be laid next to the grave of Exarch Joseph, as was the desire of Patriarch Neophyte during his lifetime. The Saint Nedelya Church is one of the emblematic ones in Sofia, dedicated to the Holy Great Martyr Nedelya. It was there that the late Bulgarian Patriarch and Sofia Metropolitan Neofitus wished to be buried.
BGNES reminds that His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan Neophyte of Sofia died at the age of 78 on March 13, 2024.
The Bulgarian Patriarch was admitted to hospital at the end of November 2023 due to a lung disease. Since the Nativity of Christ, dozens of prayers have been offered for his health, and in recent weeks, many patriarchates have called for prayers for Patriarch Neophyte.
His Holiness Neophyte was born on October 15, 1945 in Sofia with the secular name Simeon Dimitrov. After completing his secondary education, he was accepted as a student at the Sofia Theological Seminary, graduating in 1965.
Since September 1967, he has been a student at the Theological Academy "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Sofia, which graduated in 1971.
From the fall of 1971 to 1973, he studied theology at the Department of "Church Singing" at the Moscow Theological Academy. From September 1, 1973, he was appointed a teacher of Eastern church singing and conductor of the student choir at the Theological Academy "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Sofia.
In 1975, he was ordained a monk in the Troyan Monastery with the name Neophyte by Patriarch Maxim. In 1977, in the capital's cathedral church "St. Sunday" was elevated to Archimandrite dignity. Since December 1985, he has been proto-single of the Sofia metropolis, and as such, on December 8, he was coronated in the episcopal rank with the title of Leukius.
Since December 1989, Bishop Neofit has been rector of the Theological Academy "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Sofia, and on July 26, 1991 he was elected as the first dean of the restored Faculty of Theology at the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". He held this position until January 1992. In the same year, he was appointed the chief secretary of St. Synod and Chairman of the Church Board at the Patriarchal Cathedral "St. Alexander Nevsky".
In 1994, he was elected Metropolitan of Dorostol and Cherven. In 2008, he became an honorary doctor of the Sofia University. The title was awarded for overall contribution to the development of spirituality at SU and for his active participation.
In 2010, he was awarded by the President with the Order of "St. Cyril and Methodius" - necklace "for his particularly significant merits for the development of the Theological Academy "St. Kliment Ohridski", for his contribution to the development of scientific and educational ties and relationships between Eastern and Western Christians and on the occasion of his 65th anniversary".
On February 24, 2013, Sunday, at the Patriarchal Electoral Church Council in Sofia, Metropolitan Neofit of Ruse was elected Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia.
The enthronement of His Holiness Neophyte as Patriarch of Bulgaria took place the same day in "St. Alexander Nevsky".
In his last public appearance at the end of October, His Holiness welcomed the relics of St. Euthymius - Patriarch of Tarnovo. /BGNES
