site.btaPM Denkov, Deputy PM Gabriel Meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Outgoing Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who led the funeral procession for His Holiness Neophyte, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia, the government press office reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel expressed her appreciation for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's arrival and said that "Patriarch Neophyte will always remain in our hearts because he embodied Christian values".

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew stressed the positive relations between the state and the church in Bulgaria, which is for the good of the Bulgarian citizens.

Peace, unity and cooperation was the message that united everyone at the meeting. During the conversation, the importance of Christian values, cultural exchange, and the increased support of the Bulgarian government for the Bulgarian community in Istanbul were discussed. Another highlight of the conversation was the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the innocent victims and destruction it caused, added the government press service.

On Saturday, Bulgaria laid to rest His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte of Sofia. He died on March 13 after a long illness at the Military Medical Academy in Sofia due to multiple organ failure.