His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has expressed condolences to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the passing of His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria.

"In personal piety and faithfulness to the Church of Christ, through prayer and many years of diligent work in the spiritual vineyard of Bulgarian Orthodoxy, the departed hierarch truly earned a good name and good reputation," Patriarch Kirill's message reads.

"We cherish the fact that a significant part of his life was associated with the Moscow Theological Academy, where his theological and musical talents were brightly revealed. After his election to the Patriarchal throne, the late Patriarch visited the territories of the Russian Church several times, and the faithful of our Church were deeply impressed by his sincere love and respect," wrote the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Patriarch Kirill noted that during his visit to Moscow in 2013, Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria consecrated the foundation stone of the church dedicated to St. Cyprian, Metropolitan of Moscow—a saint who lived in the 14th century and hailed from Bulgaria. Additionally, Patriarch Neophyte participated in the canonization of St. Seraphim of Boguchar, who is venerated today by both the Russian and Bulgarian Churches.