Man Mocks Tomb of Patriarch Neophytus in Shocking Attack: First Picture Revealed

The first picture of the man mocking has appeared Tomb of Patriarch Neophytus. They show a man who first tries to tear down the mourning flags of the temple, and then the obituary, but fails because it is behind glass.

At the grave of his holiness, the man drops the cross and the lantern in which the candles are placed. The cross was removed and part of it was broken, as was part of the marble around the tomb of Patriarch Neophytus.

The attack happened around 11.30pm last night. The picture comes from the security video cameras in the “Holy Sunday” temple of the capital.

The tomb of the Bulgarian Patriarch and Sofia Metropolitan Neophyte is located under the colonnade of the Metropolitan Cathedral. He was buried near the tomb of Exarch Joseph I.

This appears to be the second destruction of the tomb of Patriarch Neofitus, bishop of Belogradchisk and vicar of the Sofia Metropolis explained to bTV.

Photo: The Holy Synod

“There was something like that on Saturday against Sunday. The lantern was broken. Vandalism of the temple inside and outside happens every day by drug addicts or mentally challenged people who have become addicted to alcohol. Hopefully it’s just that and not something more serious. “Unfortunately, the police only collect documents and packages, but there is no license,” he said.

Clergy say that what happened is an attack on the memory of all Bulgarians.
“The memorial is handmade for all of us. His memory cannot be tarnished. The monument is about memory. The church cannot take revenge, we must pray, and that’s what we do – to introduce the spirit of forgiveness and peace”, said Nikolay Georgiev, head of the church “St. Sunday”.

People who came to celebrate the 99th anniversary of the attack on the church “St. Sunday,” found out about the vandalism. Elena Nikolova is among the lay people sent by the patriarch on his last earthly journey.

“It’s just a sin for those who did it. Hooliganism and atheism. This thing is very bad. Only unbelievers can do that,” said Elena.

And the clergy hope to find a solution, because the temple is surrounded every day.

“Unfortunately, the police only collect packages, documents, but there is no permission, or punishment, or people who can be held accountable,” said the bishop of Belogradchi and Vicar of the Sofia Metropolis Polikarp.

The police are investigating the case. SDVR told bTV that the photos of the incident reached them in the afternoon.

On April 21, Sunday, in the church “Holy Sunday” will be celebrated Requiem Holy Liturgy and a memorial service on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the death of the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophytes, the BOC.