Bulgarian Orthodox Patriarch Neophyte dies aged 78

Patriarch Neophyte of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan of Sofia, has died at the age of 78.

The news of the death of Patriarch Neophyte of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan of Sofia, due to multi-organ failure, was announced by Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony.

The Orthodox Holy Synod said on Wednesday in a statement that the patriarch had been hospitalized for four months for lung ailments.

He passed away at the Military Medical Academy in Sofia on Wednesday evening at 10:22 PM.

Neophyte was elected Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on February 24, 2013, and succeeded Patriarch Maxim who led the Church between 1971 and his death in 2012.

Neophyte was the third Patriarch of Bulgaria.

About 80% of the population in the 6.8 million-strong Bulgaria are Orthodox Christians.

In May 2019, Patriarch Neophyte met with Pope Francis in the Synod Hall of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church during his Apostolic Visit to Bulgaria.

Sr. Francine-Marie Cooper
Source: vaticannews.va/en