President Radev postponed handing over the government-forming mandate for Monday, because of the death of Patriarch Neophyte

President Rumen Radev postpones the handing over of the mandate to form a government until Monday, March 18, at 12 noon.

The Head of State on March 14 visited the Synodal Palace, where he expressed condolences on the death of Patriarch Neophyte. The President had scheduled the handing over of the exploratory mandate for tomorrow at 5 pm, but is now postponed.

"The death of Patriarch Neofit is a great loss for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and for the entire Bulgarian nation. I will remember him as a man, as a Patriarch who taught us humility and wisdom. In these days of universal humility and reverence for his memory, political passions are irrelevant and that is why I postpone the handing over of the mandate to seek to form a government until Monday at 12 noon," Rumen Radev said.

Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte has passed away

The lying in state of Patriarch Neofhyte will begin tomorrow, on March 15 at 9.00 am at the Patriarchal Cathedral "St. Alexander Nevski.

Funeral service for late Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte to be held on Saturday, lying-in-state begins on Friday

The funeral service for the late Patriarch will be held on Saturday, March 16, at the “St. Alexander Nevski” Patriarchal Cathedral. After the service, the body will be taken in procession to the “Saint Nedelya” Cathedral, where the Patriarch will be buried. This was his wish, as mentioned in his will.

Friday and Saturday declared Days of Mourning in Memory of late Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria