His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, transmitted a message on Saturday, for the funeral of His Beatitude Neophyte, Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Full text:
Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria – A Gentle and Wise Spiritual Shepherd
Your Eminence Ioan,
Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav, Locum-tenens to the Patriarch,
Beloved members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church,
Esteemed State authorities of the Republic of Bulgaria
The Romanian Orthodox Church has received, with deep sorrow, the news of the departure from this world of our beloved brother in Christ, Metropolitan of Sofia and Patriarch of Bulgaria, Neophyte of blessed memory.
Gifted by God with special charisms for fulfilling the holy mission of Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Neophyte was a worthy successor of the venerable Patriarchs of Bulgaria, whose spiritual legacy he continued and constantly renewed. A well-known personality of the Orthodox world, Patriarch Neophyte has left a lasting mark on the recent history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which he has spiritually guided for 11 years.
A gentle and wise spiritual shepherd, His Beatitude distinguished himself throughout his entire pastoral and missionary activity as a fervent supporter of theological education, as a rector of the “St. Clement of Ohrid” Theological Academy in Sofia and then as a dean of the Faculty of Theology in the capital city of Bulgaria. In so doing, Patriarch Neophyte of blessed memory paid special attention to young people, whom he spiritually prepared to meet the challenges of today’s world, marked by multiple moral, economic, and social crises and even by military conflicts. His Beatitude’s direct support of the Faculty of Theology made an important contribution to the formation of future clergy and theologians, who are called to further defend and promote the values of Orthodoxy in Bulgarian society.
Faithfully following the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15, 12), Patriarch Neophyte manifested a brotherly love for the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Romanian people. Thus, His Beatitude showed special paternal and pastoral care for the Romanian Orthodox community in Sofia and, in particular, for its representative, Reverend Father Neluțu Oprea. Furthermore, His Beatitude concretely promoted Orthodox fraternal cooperation and mutual help, blessing the pilgrimages of many Romanian hierarchs, clergy and faithful to the holy places of Bulgaria, as well as the participation of many members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, especially of His Eminence Metropolitan Naum of Ruse, in the liturgical services at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, on the occasion of the Feast Day of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New, Protector of Bucharest.
In these days of mourning, we assure all the hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the clergy and the entire Bulgarian Orthodox people of our esteem and prayers, asking the All-Merciful God to rest the soul of our beloved bother in Christ, Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Neophyte of blessed memory, in the dwelling places of His beloved saints, where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting.
May his memory be eternal from generation to generation!
† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photo credit: Orthodox Church of Bulgaria (archive)
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