Sofia, November 7, 2013
On November 6, Patriarch Neophyte served a Divine Liturgy and a funeral service at the grave of Patriarch Maxim in the Dormition Cathedral of the Troyan Monastery. Patriarch Neophyte lit a candle for the repose of the previous Patriarch and laid a bouquet of flowers upon the grave of his predecessor. Hierarchs and clergy from all dioceses of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church were present at the commemoration service.
On the occasion of the anniversary of the repose of Patriarch Maxim, the Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church issued a special obituary.
Patriarch Maxim (secular name: Marin Naydenov Minkov) reposed on November 6, 2012, aged 98. He was the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church from July 4, 1971. He was a Patriarch for 41 years, which was the longest term in the history of the Bulgarian Church. After his repose, Metropolitan Neophyte (Dimitrov) of Ruse was elected the new Patriarch of Bulgaria on February 24, 2013.
