The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is mourning the passing of Patriarch Neophyte, whose funeral is scheduled for March 16th at the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral.

On March 14th, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church convened for an extraordinary session and decided on the funeral arrangements for the head of the Church. The duties of the Synod's chairman will be assumed by Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav, the most senior hierarch present.

According to the decision of the Holy Synod, a farewell to Patriarch Neophyte will take place today at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky.

"At 9:30 on March 16th, a requiem Liturgy will be held, followed by a memorial service for the late Primate of the BOC. The body of the Patriarch will then be carried in a procession from the Patriarchal Cathedral to the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection of Christ, where he will be interred," the Synod's statement reads.

Metropolitan Kiprian of Stara Zagora informed journalists that the late Patriarch will be buried in the Resurrection Cathedral "as per his wish and at the request of the Holy Synod." He also announced that Bulgaria will observe two days of national mourning - Friday and Saturday.

Metropolitan Kiprian stated that the election of a new leader for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church will take place within four months. Next week, the Holy Synod will appoint one of the hierarchs responsible for overseeing the process.

It was previously reported that on the evening of March 13th, 2024, Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria peacefully passed away at the age of 78 after a prolonged illness.

Photo: Dimitar Kyosemarliev, Dnes.bg