Religion: Orthodox church leader dies in Bulgaria

Religion: Orthodox church leader dies in Bulgaria

Patriarch Neofit is dead. He was at the head of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria for eleven years. Now the 78-year-old died of multi-organ failure after a long illness.

The head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Neofit, died in the evening at the age of 78. This was announced by the main secretary of the church council. Patriarch Neofit died of multi-organ failure in the military hospital in Sofia after a long illness, said Bishop Gerasim. The church leader had been treated there for a lung disease since the end of November 2023.

Neofit led the Bulgarian Orthodox Church since February 2013 and was also bishop of the capital Sofia. With him at the helm, the Orthodox Church in North Macedonia was recognized. During Pope Francis’ 2019 visit to Bulgaria, Neofit met with him for a conversation but declined to attend a joint service. After the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Neofit called for an end to the bloodshed there in 2022.

A church assembly is supposed to elect Neofit’s successor within four months. There was initially no clear favorite.

The majority of Bulgaria’s population is Christian Orthodox. Catholics only make up around one percent of the population. In addition, around ten percent are ethnic Turks, which dates back to the time of the Ottoman Empire.

Source: Stern

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