Primate of UOC expresses condolences to the Synod of Bulgarian Church

Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte. Photo: news.church.ua

On March 14, 2024, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, the head of the UOC, expressed condolences to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the passing of Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte. This was reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

"With great sorrow, I received the news of the passing of His Holiness Neophyte, Metropolitan of Sofia, Patriarch of Bulgaria," the message said. "On behalf of the episcopate, clergy, all faithful children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and personally, I express sincere condolences to you and the entire fullness of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church."

His Beatitude recounted that he knew His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte as a great hierarch of the Orthodox Church: "A servant of Christ of high spiritual life, an indefatigable archpastor, a church composer, a choirmaster who particularly loved worship and church singing."

The UOC Primate shared memories of his personal acquaintance with His Holiness Patriarch: "I can testify that the newly departed was a true spiritual father to the pious Bulgarian people, who, with humility but with archpastoral dignity and nobility, performed his Primatial service."

"I pray that the All-Merciful Lord may repose the soul of the newly departed Patriarch Neophyte in the habitations of the righteous! Eternal and blessed memory to His Holiness!" Metropolitan Onuphry wished.

As reported by the UOJ, on March 13, after a prolonged illness, Patriarch Neophyte passed away at the age of 79.

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