religion
Orthodox church leader dies in Bulgaria
Neofit has led the Bulgarian Orthodox Church since 2013. Photo
© Vassil Donev/dpa
After eleven years at the head of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria, Patriarch Neofit has died. After a long illness, the 78-year-old suffered from multi-organ failure.
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 is in the military hospital after a long illness with multi-organ failure Sofia died, 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.