At the official invitation, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine arrived in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, where on March 16, 2024, in the Patriarchal Cathedral, he took part in the events dedicated to the burial of the late Patriarch of Bulgaria Metropolitan Neophyte of Sofia. Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva, deputy head of the Department of External Church Relations, is accompanying the primate.
That’s according to the OCU press service.
At the entrance to the cathedral, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was warmly greeted by the representative of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Antony of Western and Central Europe and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria, Oksana Ilashchuk.
In the cathedral, the Primate of the OCU honored the deceased Patriarch Neophyte at his grave. Later, during the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Bishop prayed together with other representatives of the Local Churches. The service was led by Metropolitan Ioan, temporary chairman of the Synod of the BOC, together with the diocesan bishops of the Bulgarian Church.
His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the commemoration service of the BOC Synod, and the guests prayed for the repose of the soul of the newly deposed Patriarch Neophyte.
After the funeral service, the Primate of the OCU personally expressed his condolences to Metropolitan Ioan and, in his person, to the entirety of the Bulgarian Church, and also paid his last respects outside the grave of the late First Hierarch of Bulgaria.
The Kingdom of Heaven and eternal peace to His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte!
