The funeral of the late Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte (photos)

The Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia, Neophyte, was buried in the “St. Nedelya”Cathedral on March 16. The head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church died late on Wednesday, March 13, at the age of 78.

The funeral was preceded by a funeral service officiated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Afterwards, a procession carried the Patriarch's mortal remains from “St. Alexander Nevsky” Cathedral to "St. Nedelya" Cathedral.

The clergy and laity escorted the Patriarch to his final resting place, to the courtyard of the "St. Nedelya" Cathedral, where he was buried in accordance with his wishes as expressed in his will and in accordance with a decision by the Holy Synod.

Liturgical procession escorted Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria to his final resting place (video)

His mortal remains were placed on the south side of the temple, behind the grave of Exarch Joseph.

During his lifetime, Neophyte said he wanted to be laid in a sunny place to remember the beauty of the world.

Gun salutes and a short service, again presided over by the Ecumenical Patriarch, in the presence of all the Metropolitans of the Holy Synod and priests, were conducted as part of the final farewell to the Bulgarian Patriach Neophyte.

Funeral Mass in memory of His Holiness, Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria

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A hierarchical divine liturgy was held at 9:30 am, led by Yoan, Metropolitan of Varna, who is temporally fulfilling the duties of the head of the Holy Synod.

The funeral service started at 11:40 am and was presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Payment of tribute to the mortal remains of Patriarch Neophyte followed the Trisagion service at "St. Alexander Nevsky" Cathedral.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew led the memorial litia service for the repose of Patriarch Neophyte's soul, in co-celebration with the representatives of the local Orthodox Churches and the hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The service in “St. Alexander Nevsky” cathedral was attended by Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, representatives of various institutions and religious denominations in Bulgaria, clergy from the local Orthodox Churches and many believers who came to pay final respect 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, were also there.

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev, Vice President Iliana Iotova, Parliament Chair Rosen Zhelyazkov, outgoing Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, ministers, MPs and other officials attended the service.

Following the funeral service, a liturgical procession escorted the late Patriarch to his final resting place. The coffin was taken to the St Nedelya Cathedral where it was laid by the tomb of Exarch Joseph.

At noon on March 16, hundreds of lay people from all over the country filled the space in front of the cathedral in anticipation of the liturgical procession.

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

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva

The holy name of His Holiness Neophyte is Simeon Nikolov Dimitrov. Born October 15, 1945 in Sofia. After completing his primary education in the autumn of 1959, he was admitted as a student at the Sofia Seminary at the Cherepish S singing and conductor of the Student Choir at the Theological Academy St. Kliment Ohridski in Sofia.

On 3 August, 1975, in the Trojan holy monastery he was tonsured with the name Neophyte by the Bulgarian patriarch Maxim under the spiritual seniority of the then igumen archimandrite Gelasius (ex-New York metropolitan bishop). On 15 August, patriarch Maxim ordained him with the hierodeacon title and after that on 25 March 1976 made him a hieromonk in the temple St. Nedelya chirch in the capital.

On 30 September 1975, he took the position of conductor in the Sofia priestly choir. On 15 July 1977, he became a senior lecturer on Eastern-Church singing and liturgy practice at the Theological Academy in Sofia, where he remained until the end of the 1980.

During the church service on 21 November 1977 in the St. Nedelya Cathedral in Sofia, he was ordained archimandrite by the Bulgarian patriarch Maxim. From 1 January 1981 to December 1985, archimandrite Nophyte was a protosyncellus of the Sofia metropolitan bishop. As such he was appointed bishop with the title Levkiyski and was made second vicar of the metropolitan bishop of Sofia.

On 1 December 1989, bishop Neophyte became rector of the Theological academy St. Kliment Ohridski in Sofia and on 26.07.1991 he was chosen as first deacon of the restored faculty of Theology at the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. He held the post until January 1992.

On 27 January 1992, he was appointed chief secretary of the synod and chairman of the church board of trustees at the St. Alexander Nevski.

On 27 March 1994, he’ was elected as metropolitan bishop of Dorostol and Cherven and canonically established later on 3 April 1994. With a decision by the Fifth church people’s assembly the Dorostolian-Cherven eparchy was divided into Rousse and Dorostolian eparchies and Neophyte’s title was Rousse metropolitan bishop and vicar of the restored Dorostolian metropolitan bishop’s throne.

On 02 December 2008. Rousse metropolitan bishop Neophyte received the title Doctor Honoris Causa of the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. The title was given for contribution to the development of spirituality in the Sofia University and its active participation in the restoration of the Faculty of Theology.

On 22 June 2010, his holiness metropolitan bishop Neophyte was honoured with the St. Cyril and Methodius order by the President of Bulgaria for his significant contributions to the development of the Theological Academy St. Kliment Ohridski, for his contribution to the development of scientific-religious relations and relations between Eastern and Western Christians and his 65th anniversary.

On 24 February 2013 during the Patriarchal electoral council in Sofia Neophyte was elected Bulgarian Patriarch and Sofia metropolitan bishop. He continued to be a temporary vicar of the Rousse throne until the canonical election of the new metropolitan bishop of Rousse, Naum which was held in the synodic Chapel St. King Boris on 23 March 2014.

The inauguration of His Holiness Neophyte as Patriarch of Bulgaria was carried out on the same day as his election (24 February 2013) in the afternoon at the St. Alexander Nevsky cathedral.

Neophyt’s first service as metropolitan bishop of Sofia was on 10 March 2013 in the St. Nedelya Cathedral in concelebration with bishops and clergy.