Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria fell asleep in the Lord on March 13, 2024, at the age of 78. The Patriarch had been hospitalized for several months in a hospital in Sofia due to declining health.
The news was announced on the website of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. As stated, Patriarch Neophyte fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday night at 22:22 at the Military Medical Academy of Sofia, where he was hospitalized due to multiple organ failure.
“We call upon Orthodox Christians to pray to the Almighty God together with the Holy Orthodox Church for the repose of the soul of our beloved Patriarch in the Kingdom of God”. The Patriarchate also thanked the leadership of the Military Medical Academy, the doctors and the staff of the Intensive Care Unit for the care and attention given to Patriarch Neophyte.
He was born on October 15, 1945 in Sofia. He studied at the Theological Academy of Sofia and further studied in Moscow.
On August 3, 1975, he was tonsured a monk. He was ordained a deacon on August 15, 1975, and a presbyter on March 25, 1976. On November 21, 1977, he received the Offikion of Archimandrite. He served as Protosyncellus of the Metropolis of Sofia from 1981 to 1985.
He was a lecturer and conductor of the Choir of the Academy, President of the Theological Academy, the first Dean of the Theological School of Sofia University, and served as Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod from 1992 to 1994.
On April 3, 1994, he was elected Metropolitan of Dorostol and Cherven. On December 19, 2001, after the eparchy had been divided into two eparchies, he was appointed Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Rousse.
On February 24, 2013, he was elected Metropolitan of Sofia and Patriarch of Bulgaria and was enthroned on the same day.