Patriarch Neophytos of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, serving as the Metropolitan of Sofia, has died at the age of 78. The announcement came through official channels of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, confirming the passing after a long illness. The death occurred on March 13 at 22:22 local time, which corresponds to 23:22 Moscow time, while he was receiving care at the Bulgarian Military Medical Academy.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church called on believers to offer sincere prayers for the late patriarch and also expressed deep gratitude to the medical team whose efforts and attentive care supported him during his final days.
Patriarch Neophytos, born Simeon Nikolov Dimitrov in Sofia on October 15, 1945, pursued his theological studies at the Sofia Theological Seminary and then at the Moscow Theological Academy in Sergiev Posad, near Moscow. He took monastic vows in 1975, adopting the name Neophytos. Beginning in 1989, he held the post of rector of the Sofia Theological Academy, and two years later he became the dean of the Faculty of Theology at Sofia University named after Kliment Ohridski. In 1994 he was consecrated as Metropolitan of Dorostol and Cherven, and following the division of the diocese into Rusenskaya and Dorostolskaya, he took the title of Metropolitan of Rusensky.
In February 2013, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church elected him as Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia, marking a significant milestone in the continuity of Bulgarian ecclesial leadership. His tenure as head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was characterized by a focus on spiritual renewal, education, and outreach to the faithful across Bulgaria and the diaspora.
The life and ministry of Patriarch Neophytos occurred within the broader historical and ecclesial context of relationships between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and other historic patriarchates, including implications of the status of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Bulgarian Church has longstanding traditions rooted in its own autocephalous governance, while maintaining dialogue with other Orthodox centers. This dynamic has often encompassed discussions about primacy, jurisdiction, and the practical governance of local Orthodox communities in Bulgaria and beyond. Observers note that these conversations influence the day-to-day life of parishes, liturgical practice, and the education of clergy within the Bulgarian Orthodox tradition. In recent times, stakeholders within the Bulgarian Church have emphasized unity, pastoral service, and the protection of canonical norms in navigating inter-Orthodox relations and regional ecclesial realities. [citation needed]