Abstract: Mesaj transmis la slujba de înmormântare a Patriarhului Neofit al Bisericii Ortodoxe Bulgare, 16 martie 2024. Slujba a fost oficiată în Catedrala Patriarhală „Sfântul Alexandru Nevsky” din Sofia și a fost prezidată de Sanctitatea Sa Bartolomeu, Patriarhul Ecumenic al Constantinopolului. Delegația Bisericii Ortodoxe Române care a participat la funeraliile Patriarhului Neofit a fost formată din Înaltpreasfințitul Părinte Teofan, Mitropolitul Moldovei și Bucovinei; Preasfințitul Părinte Varlaam Ploieșteanul, Episcop‑vicar patriarhal, și ierodiaconul Nicolae Iftimiu, consilier patriarhal și directorul Agenției de știri Basilica a Patriarhiei Române.
Cuvinte-cheie: Patriarhul Neofit al Bulgariei, slujba de înmormântare a Patriarhului Neofit, păstor blând și înțelept, mesaj de condoleanțe
Summary: 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 […]. 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. 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”.
† Daniel, Patriarhul României; e-mail: cabinet.patriarhal@patriarhia.ro
