Bulgaria, thousands at funeral of Orthodox Patriarch Neofit

(ANSA) - SOFIA, 17 MAR - Bulgarians and the Orthodox world bid a final farewell in Sofia yesterday to Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan of Sofia Neofit, who died on March 13 at the age of 78. On the second day of national mourning proclaimed for today, an emotional crowd of hundreds attended the funeral ceremony celebrated in the patriarchal church dedicated to Saint Alexandar Nevski by the Metropolitan of Varna, Yoan, who is also provisionally Metropolitan of Sofia until a new patriarch is elected. Present were the high clergy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew, delegations of Orthodox churches, top Bulgarian authorities, diplomats. Russian Patriarch Kirill was not invited for the occasion, and the Russian Orthodox Church was represented by Metropolitan Nestor. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is not recognized by most autocephalous Orthodox churches including the Bulgarian one, was represented by Metropolitan Epifanij. "Patriarch Neofit was for all of us an example of humility and purity, of charity and selfless love of neighbor, of patience and wisdom," Metropolitan Yoan said at the end of the funeral mass. After the funeral services, the coffin with the mortal remains of the Bulgarian patriarch, followed by thousands of people, was transported for burial to St. Sophia Church in the Bulgarian capital where Neofit was a priest as a young man.
    Translated with DeepL.com (free version) (ANSA).