Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe has been invited to serve the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ and for Epiphany at the St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral in Sofia. He will replace Patriarch Neophyte, decided the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe is in Bulgaria for the holidays at the invitation of the Holy Synod.

Patriarch Neophyte is still being treated at the Military Medical Academy and the church calls on everyone to pray for his health because prayer is the Christian's greatest weapon, Metropolitan Anthony said for bTV. Bulgaria’s Patriarch Neophyte is in a stable condition, but on the advice of doctors no persons are allowed near him because of circulating viruses and flu, Metropolitan Anthony added. On the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, let us all pray for a better future for the Bulgarian people, said Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe.