At an official invitation, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine arrived in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, where he took part in the events dedicated to the burial of the deceased His Holiness Patriarch Neophytos of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia on March 16, 2024, at the Patriarchal Cathedral. This was reported by the official website of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The Primate is accompanied by the Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva.
At the entrance to the Cathedral, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was warmly greeted by a representative of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, and Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria Oksana Ilashchuk.
In the Cathedral, the Primate of the OCU honored the deceased Holy Patriarch Neophytos at his tomb. Later, during the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude prayed together with other representatives of the Local Churches. The service was led by Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliko Preslav, the temporary chairman of the Synod of the BOC, together with the diocesan bishops of the Bulgarian Church.
The funeral service was led by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in concelebration with the Synod of the BOC, and the guests prayed for the repose of the soul of the newly reposed Patriarch Neophytos.
Upon completion of the funeral service, the Primate of the OCU personally expressed his condolences to Metropolitan John and, in his person, to the fullness of the Bulgarian Church, and paid his last respects at the tomb of the deceased First Hierarch of Bulgaria.
May the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal rest in peace to His Holiness Patriarch Neophytos of Bulgaria!
According to the press service of the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC (OCU)
Press service of the Diocese of Vinnytsia and Bar of the UOC (OCU)
