About Neophyte of Bulgaria
Patriarch Neophyte was the Patriarch of All Bulgaria, head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church from 24 February 2013 until his death on 13 March 2024. Prior to his election, he was the Metropolitan Bishop of Ruse (2001–2013) and Bishop of Dorostol and Cherven (1994–2001). On 3 August 1975, at the Troyan Monastery, he took monastic vows with the name Neophyte in a ceremony overseen by Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria. Neophyte was ordained archimandrite by Patriarch Maxim on 21 November 1977 at St Nedelya Church. Between 1983 and 1990, Neophyte was an agent of the Sixth Directorate of the Committee for State Security, communist secret police, under the secret name "Simeonov".
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