Dumenko attends the funeral of Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte

Dumenko and Zoria at the funeral of Patriarch Neophyte.

The requiem Divine Liturgy for the late Patriarch Neophyte of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Neophyte, has commenced at the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Sofia.

Present at the funeral are head of the OCU Epifaniy Dumenko and spokesman of the OCU Yevstratiy Zoria, according to Channel 24.

Metropolitans of the Synod of the BOC expressed concern about this, as the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has not recognized Dumenko's structure. Therefore, the presence of the OCU delegation at the funeral has sparked disputes. Metropolitan Ioann of Varna and Veliki Preslav stated that the arrival of Epifaniy Dumenko might unsettle some people, as his status is still undetermined.

The OCU delegation arrived together with Patriarch Bartholomew, who approached the cathedral and entered the altar, where he will lead the funeral service for Patriarch Neophyte after the Liturgy. The service is conducted by Bulgarian hierarchs. Dumenko and Zoria stand in the corner of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

The head of the Patriarchate of Constantinople is accompanied by Archimandrite Haralampiy (Nichev), who was expelled from the BOC under Patriarch Maxim.

Representing the ROC at the funeral is Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe.

As reported by the UOJ, the late Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte previously stated that today the world is plagued by forces of evil, citing as an example the "destructive war against fraternal Ukraine".

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