The body of the late Patriarch of Bulgaria will lie in state

The body of His Beatitude Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria will lie in state in the Church of St. Marina in Sofia, as announced by Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliki Preslav, prior to his funeral service.

Earlier, the Metropolitan presided over the Trisagion service to honour the late Patriarch. Metropolitan John urged the faithful to come to the church and pray for the Patriarch.

“Yesterday His Beatitude went to be with the Lord. This sad news has shaken the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. His Beatitude left a lasting mark on the recent history of our Church. He was a humble man, extremely patient, and calm. He was also an exceptional chanter; one could recognise his voice among thousands. The hymns he sang are a treasure of church music,” Metropolitan John emphasised.