Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to preside over funeral service for late Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria

Tomorrow, March 16, is the second day of mourning in memory of His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte. He will be buried next to Exarch Joseph in the courtyard of Saint Nedelya Cathedral in Sofia.

Bulgarians pay last respects to Patriarch Neophyte (photos, video)

A requiem mass will be held before the funeral of the Patriarch at "St. Alexander Nevsky" Cathedral. The service will start at 9.30 and will be presided over by Metropolitan Yoan of Varna and Veliko Preslav, Interim Vice President of the Holy Synod.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will officiate the funeral service, which will start at 11:00 at St. Alexander Nevsky cathedral.

The service will be followed by a procession to Patriarch Neophyte’s final resting place in the courtyard of "Saint Nedelya" Cathedral.

Preparations are already underway at the cathedral for the laying to rest of His Holiness' mortal remains.

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva, BNT

Police in Sofia are taking special measures to ensure public order and road safety around the “St. Alexander Nevsky” cathedral and “St Nedelya” Church, the Ministry of Interior said.

Traffic restrictions in the centre of Sofia due to the funeral of Patriarch Neofit

There is a designated area and those wishing to honour the memory of Patriarch Neophyte. People will be allowed through two checkpoints - on the north and south side of the church.

Tomorrow, during the procession from “St. Alexander Nevsky” Cathedral to “St. Nedelya” Cathedral, the traffic will be gradually stopped and restored on “G.S Rakovski" street, "Tsar Osvoboditel" Blvd., "Knyaz Al. Dondukov Blvd., "Princess Maria Louisa" Blvd.