On behalf of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Neophye received the Shofard badge of honour of the organization of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom” and the Association of Bulgarian Jews in Israel “Ehud Olei Bulgaria”, as well as a certificate of remembrance on the occasion of the 75^th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews, marked in 2018.

Going back to God’s commandment “Love thy neighbour as thyself”, the Bulgarian Patriarch welcomed the representatives of the Jewish organizations, assuring them that “we love you as ourselves and feel a heartfelt connection and thankfulness.”

The guests from the Jewish community expressed the hope that “the sacrificial love of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church shall remain for all time in the living memory of all people who have survived the death camps.”