Bulgarians Bid Farewell to Late Patriarch Neophyte

Metodi Yordanov, Yoanna Vodenova, Bistra Roushkova

BTA Photo

Sofia,

16.03.2024 17:04

(BTA)

Bulgarians, clergy, senior officials paid their respects and bid farewell to the late Bulgarian Patriarch and Sofia Metropolitan Neophyte, who was buried in Sofia’s St. Nedelya Church Saturday on the second day of national mourning.

Patriarch Neophyte passed away after a long illness on Wednesday evening.

Neophyte’s coffin was brought to the church in a gun carriage with a funeral procession from the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, where Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew headed the memorial litia service for the repose of the late Patriarch's soul, in co-celebration with the representatives of the local Orthodox Churches and the hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The funeral service was preceded by a hierarchical divine liturgy, led by Ioan, Metropolitan of Varna, currently serving as Locum Tenens head of the Holy Synod.

Senior officials, politicians and statesmen paid tribute to the late Bulgarian Patriarch, whose remains were laid by the tomb of Exarch Joseph in St. Nedelya Church.

Reactions and comments

Parliament Chair Rosen Zhelyazkov Saturday told journalists before entering the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to pay tribute to the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte that "by his goodness, the Patriarch should serve as an example to all. He will be remembered as an impeccable, flawless cleric, as a fosterer of Orthodoxy and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and as a man who called for unity and unification," he said.

President Rumen Radev Saturday said he will never forget Patriarch Neophyte's words that "faith in the good should unite and strengthen us as a people". He spoke to journalists before entering the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to attend the funeral service of the Bulgarian Patriarch.

Vice President Iliana Iotova said that "we as a people must learn tolerance and love for each other" from the Bulgarian Patriarch. She recalled how the Patriarch sent her a personal and special message on every holiday. "I keep these documents and I will keep them all my life," Iotova said.

Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha said upon entering the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral that Neophyte was a beloved Patriarch, one that was willing to unite and understand the other. "It is a pity that he passed away so early," he said.

Among those attending the service in St. Alexander Nevsky were representatives of various institutions and religious denominations in Bulgaria, clergy from the local Orthodox Churches and many believers who came to pay tribute to the Bulgarian Patriarch. Epiphanius I, Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine was also present. Ambassador of Russia Eleonora Mitrofanova and Ambassador of Ukraine Olesya Ilashchuk attended as well. The attendees also included outgoing Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, ministers, MPs, representatives of the judiciary, Constitutional Court Judge Yanaki Stoilov, President Georgi Parvanov (2002-2011), and BTA Director General Kiril Valchev are also attending the service.

Patriarch’s brief biography

Patriarch Neophyte's secular name was Simeon Dimitrov. He was born on October 15, 1945 in Sofia. He studied at the Sofia Theological Seminary (until 1965) and later enrolled in the Sofia Theological Academy where he graduated in 1971. From the autumn of 1971 to 1973 he was on theological specialization at the Department of Choral Singing at the Moscow Theological Academy. On September 1, 1973, he was appointed professor of Eastern Orthodox Church singing and conductor of the student choir of the Sofia Theological Academy.

On August 3, 1975 he was tonsured with the name Neophyte at Troyan Monastery by Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim. In 1976, he was ordained hierodeacon and later hieromonk at. the St. Nedelya church in Sofia.

From September 30, 1975 Neophyte was conductor of the Sofia Priests' Choir, and from July 15, 1977 he was also senior lecturer in Eastern Church singing and liturgical practice at the Theological Academy in Sofia, where he remained until the end of 1980. He was inducted into the archimandrite dignity by Patriarch Maxim. From January 1, 1981 to December 1985 Archimandrite Neophyte was Proto-signal of the Sofia Metropolitanate. He was enthroned to the episcopal rank on December 8, 1985 in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky and appointed second vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia.

On December 1, 1989 Bishop Neophyte became Rector of the Sofia Theological Academy. On July 26, 1991 he was also elected First Dean of the restored Faculty of Theology at the Sofia University of St. Kliment Ohridski. He held this post until January 1992.

On January 27, 1992 he was appointed Secretary General of the Holy Synod and Chairman of the Church Board of Trustees at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky.

On March 27, 1994 he was elected Metropolitan of Dorostol and Cherven. On December 17, 2001, by a decision of the Fifth Ecclesiastical and National Council, the Diocese of Dorostol-Cherven was divided into the Diocese of Ruse and the Diocese of Dorostol, and Neophyte was named Metropolitan of Ruse and Vicar of the restored Metropolitan See of Dorostol.

On December 2, 2008 Metropolitan Neophyte received the honorary doctor's degree of Sofia University. The title was conferred on him for his overall contribution to the development of spirituality at Sofia University and for his active participation in the restoration of the Faculty of Theology.

On June 22, 2010 His Eminence Metropolitan Neophyte was conferred the Order of St. St. Cyril and Methodius - necklace by the President of Bulgaria for his outstanding services to the development of the Theological Academy in Sofia, for his contribution to the development of scientific and educational relations and relations between Eastern and Western Christians, and on the occasion of his 65th anniversary.

On February 24, 2013, at the Patriarchal Electoral Church Council in Sofia, Metropolitan Neophyte of Ruse was elected Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia. His enthronement took place on the same day in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky.

What's next?

According to the Statute of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, “in the event of the death of the Patriarch, the member of the lesser Holy Synod with the longest service as metropolitan shall temporarily head the Holy Synod. He shall duly notify the Local Orthodox churches, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Chair of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister about the demise, and shall execute the duties in guiding the operation of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate until the election of a Locum Tenens within seven days after the death of the Patriarch”.

Ioan, Metropolitan of Varna was elected Locum Tenens. He and the Holy Synod shall undertake the necessary actions related to the election of a new Bulgarian patriarch no later than four months after the patriarchal throne has become vacant.

The Holy Synod shall determine the date on which the church council for the election of a Patriarch shall be convened, and shall direct by circular letter the diocesan metropolitans to convene the diocesan electors on a certain Sunday.

“The person to be elected Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia must possess the following qualities: to be serving as a diocesan metropolitan of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church; to be no younger than 50 years of age; to have governed a diocese as a metropolitan for at least five years; to be distinguished by rightful thoughts on the Orthodox faith and by faithful observance of the Church order,” the Statute says.

The Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia is elected by a Patriarchal Electoral Church Council, which consists of: the archbishops - metropolitans and bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate; five representatives of each diocese - three clergymen and two laymen, and from the Sofia diocese ten representatives - six clergymen and four laymen; one representative of the stavropegic monasteries (under the direct control of the Holy Synod/Patriarch), elected by the respective monastic council; two representatives from each diocese of the diocesan monasteries - one monk and one nun, appointed by the respective diocesan bishop; one representative of the secondary spiritual schools, appointed by their leaderships.

/MY/