Saturday is the second day of national mourning on which Bulgarians pay their respects to Bulgarian Patriarch and Sofia Metropolitan Neophyte, who passed away of organ failure late on Wednesday after a long illness.
A hierarchical divine liturgy at 9:30 am, led by Ioan, Metropolitan of Varna, currently serving as Locum Tenens head of the Holy Synod, preceded the funeral service starting at 11:30 am.
Payment of tribute to the remains of Patriarch Neophyte followed the Trisagion service at St. Alexander Nevsky.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew headed 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.
Among those attending the service in St. Alexander Nevsky are 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 tribute to the Bulgarian Patriarch. Epiphanius I, Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine is also present. Ambassador of Russia Eleonora Mitrofanova and Ambassador of Ukraine Olesya Ilashchuk are also there. President Rumen Radev, Vice President Iliana Iotova, Parliament Chair Rosen Zhelyazkov, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, ministers, MPs, representatives of the judiciary, Constitutional Court Judge Yanaki Stoilov, President Georgi Parvanov (2002-2011), and BTA Director General Kiril Valchev are also attending the service.
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha said upon entering the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral that Neophyte was a beloved Patriarch, one that was willing to unite and understand the other. "It is a pity that he passed away so early," he said.
Following the funeral service, the coffin will be taken to the St Nedelya Cathedral where it will be laid by the tomb of Exarch Joseph.
/YV/
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