In Sofia, Bulgarian worshippers gathered at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to bid farewell to Patriarch Neophyte, a revered figure in the Orthodox Christian community who passed away at the age of 78. Neophyte, known for his gentle demeanor and efforts to restore the reputation of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, took over from Patriarch Maxim in 2013.
The cathedral was filled with mourners paying their respects as Neophyte lay in state in an open casket, adorned in a white robe and crown. Clad in black, clergy members offered prayers while hundreds of faithful individuals passed by in a solemn tribute to the late patriarch, who succumbed to a long illness on Wednesday.
The burial of Neophyte is set for Saturday, with funeral rites to be led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Churches globally, alongside Bulgarian clergy members.
Orthodox Christianity is deeply ingrained in Bulgarian culture, with approximately 80% of the country’s 6.8 million residents identifying as followers of the faith.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church grappled with a tarnished reputation following revelations from a historical commission in January 2012, which disclosed that 11 out of 15 bishops had collaborated with the secret police during the communist era.
Reporting from Sofia, Stoyan Nenov, with writing by Aleksandar Vasovic and editing by Nick Macfie, captured the somber atmosphere at the cathedral as the nation bid farewell to a beloved spiritual leader.
