February 25, 2013
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria
Accompanied by members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the new Primate led a litiya procession, with bells pealing solemnly, from the Synodal Chamber, where the Electoral Council met, to the Patriarchal Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky. Waiting for His Holiness at the chuch were representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches who had arrived in Sofia at the invitation of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church was represented at the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; and archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations. Among those present in the church was also archimandrite Filipp (Vasiltsev), rector of the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia.
Metropolitan Joannikij of Sliven greeted His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Bulgarian President Mr. Rosen Plevneliev congratulated His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte on the enthronement.
In the evening, members of the Russian Orthodox Church’s delegation attended a reception in honour of the new Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which took place in the crypt of the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, and had a talk with His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte.
