Remembering His Holiness Patriarch Neofit

 After a long illness, His Holiness Patriarch Neofit fell asleep in the Lord this past Wednesday, 13Mar24.  May his memory be eternal!  Bog da Prosti!

The Holy Synod published the following statement:  “We call on all Orthodox Christians to address their sincere prayer together with the holy Orthodox Church to the all-merciful God to put to rest the soul of our dear Patriarch in the kingdom of God—in the celestial spheres of the righteous and place him among the chosen ones on the right, where with the heavenly hosts he will praise God in eternity with a pleasant voice.”

His Holiness’ health worsened late last year and he remained under medical care at the Military Medical Academy.  All who were familiar with his condition continued to pray for his health until this news shook us all.

Born Simeon Nikolov in Sofia on 15Oct45, His Holiness graduated from the Theological Seminary in Sofia.  His theological specialty (church singing) developed at the Moscow Theological Academy, from which he returned in 1973 when he taught and became conductor of the student choir at the Academy.

He was tonsured a monk in 1975 and given the name Neophyte by His Holiness Patriarch Maxim (of blessed memory) at the Troyan Monastery.

In 1989 he became rector of the Theological Academy, and two years later he became the first dean of the restored Theological Faculty at Sofia University, St. Kliment Ohridski.  Later he became the chief secretary of the Holy Synod and chairman of the board of trustees of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

In 1994 he was canonically confirmed as Metropolitan of the Dorostol-Cherven Diocese.  When the diocese was divided in half, he headed the Ruse Diocese.

In 2008 he was bestowed the title “doctor honoris causa” of the Sofia University for overall contribution to the development of spirituality at Sofia University and for his active participation in the restoration of the Faculty of Theology.  Two years later he was awarded by the President of Bulgaria the “Order of St. Cyril and Methodius”, the award stating that is was given “for his particularly significant merits for the development of the Theological Academy “St. Kliment Ohridski”, for his contribution to the development of scientific and educational ties and relationships between Eastern and Western Christians and on the occasion of his 65th birthday.”

On 24Feb13, Neophyte was elected Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, and was enthroned on that same day in St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

During his lifetime, His Holiness was known for being a tolerant and calm leader, and a zealous defender of Christian values, as well as for being an advocate for the introduction of “religion” in Bulgarian schools.

May His Holiness’ memory be eternal!  Bog da Prosti!