SOFIA, March 14. /TASS/. Patriarch Neophyte, or Neofit, of Bulgaria has died at the age of 78, the Bulgarian Patriarchate said.

"After a protracted illness, His Holiness Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia Neophyte died of the multi-organ failure at the Military Medical Academy at 10:22 p.m. local time (8:22 p.m. GMT)," it said.

His death was earlier reported by Metropolitan Anthony.

Neophyte has been Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia since 2013.