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In the early morning of November 6, 2012, His Holiness Maxim, the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia, reposed in the Lord at the age of 98 after a short illness due to heart failure, at University Hospital "Lozenets" at 03.30 hours. His Holiness Maxim led Bulgarian Orthodox Christians for more than 40 years. He was at the helm of the church from July 1971.

“Patriarch Maxim was indeed a great patriarch who prayed for the Bulgarian people, for Orthodox Bulgarians, no matter where they live and stay in the world,” said metropolitan bishop Kiril of Varna. “With the help of God, with the help of Virgin Mary, Patriarch Maxim preserved the unity and identity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. This is his greatest merit, because he did not yield to and scared of the all pushes and the pressure he was subject to. He firmly held the helm of the ship of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and took it to the rescuing port”.
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and PM Boyko Borisov have sent letters of condolences to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
"During years marked by storms and temptations, our Patriarch Maxim manifested will and put down great efforts to strengthen the unity of the Church and fortify Christian virtues in our society," writes President Plevneliev. "In his service to God and His Church, Patriarch Maxim was always and ever led by a deep faith and love for people, by piety and wisdom," adds Bulgaria's President.
"His All-Holiness devoted his whole life to Orthodoxy and the preservation of spirituality. His hard work a spiritual leader earned him the love and trust of Bulgarians," writes PM Borisov.

Eternal, blissful and bright be the memory of His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim. God forgive!



Editorial Team