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[[File:Neofit-Neophyte-Bulgaria.jpg|thumb|right|Neophyte (Dimitrov) of Bulgaria]]His Holiness '''Neophyte''' or '''Neofit (Dimitrov)''' is was the [[Patriarch]] of Bulgaria, Bishop Metropolitan of Sofia, and [[primate]] of the [[Church of Bulgaria]]. He was [[enthronement|enthroned]] on [[February 24]], 2013. He died on [[March 13]], 2024.
==Life==
Simeon Nikolov Dimitrov (Симеон Николов Димитров) was born in Sofia, Bulgaria on [[October 15]], 1945. After completing his secondary education, Simeon began his theological studies at the Sofia [[Seminary]] in Cherepish Station, graduating in 1965. Then, in September 1967, he entered the St. [[Clement of Ochrid]] Theological Academy in Sofia, graduating in 1971. He then continued his post-graduate theological education at the [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]] for two years, where he specialized in liturgical music and earned a doctoral degree.
Returning to Sofia, he was appointed lecturer of liturgical music and conductor of the Theological Seminary Choir on [[September 1]], 1973. On [[August 3]], 1975, Simeon was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]], with the name Neofit, at the Troyan Monastery by Patr. [[Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria|Maxim]]. On [[August 15]], 1975, he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[deacon|diaconate]] followed by his ordination to the [[priest]]hood on [[March 23]], 1976, both by Patr. Maxim at the Cathedral of "Sveta Nedelya" (St. Kyriaki) in Sofia.
While remaining chancellor, Archim. Neofit was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] the [[titular bishop]] of Levkas on [[December 8]], 1985 and served as the second [[vicar]] of the Sofia [[diocese|eparchy]]. On [[December 1]], 1989, Bp. Neofit was appointed rector of the St. Clement of Ochrid Theological Academy in Sofia. On [[July 26]], 1991, he was chosen the first dean of the reestablished Theological Faculty at Sofia University. On [[January 27]], 1992, he was named Secretary of the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Bulgaria and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral.
On [[March 27]], 1994, Bp. Neofit was elected Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Dorostol and Cherven and in 2001, after the eparchy had been divided into two eparchies, he was appointed Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Rousse on [[December 17]], 2001. Following the death of Patr. Maxim on [[November 6]], 2012, Metr. Neofit was elected Patriarch of Bulgaria on [[February 24]] , 2013 and enthroned later that day.
{{start box}}
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?Sophronius (Stoychev)|
title=Metropolitan of Dorostol and Cherven|
years=1994-20112001|after=?Hilarion (Tsonev)}}
{{succession|
before=—|
title=Metropolitan of Rousse|
years=20112001-2013|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=[[Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria|Maxim (Minkov)]]|
title=Patriarch of Bulgaria|
years=2013-Present2024|
after=—}}
{{end box}}
==Sources==
[[Category: Patriarchs of Bulgaria]]
[[Category: 20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[ro:Neofit (Dimitrov) al Bulgariei]]