Putin Offers Condolences to Bulgaria over Death of Patriarch

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended condolences over the death of Bulgaria's Orthodox Patriarch Maxim, who passed away at the age of 98 on Tuesday.

"His Holiness Patriarch Maxim dedicated his long life entirely to serving the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Bulgarian people. As the head [of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church] for more than four decades, he made an enormous contribution to the development of ties with the sister Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the strengthening of friendship and cooperation between our countries," Putin said in a message to Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, according to the Kremlin's website.

Patriarch Maxim was the oldest Primate of Orthodox Church Patriarchs around the world, and he was at the helm for a record-long 41 years. He died shortly before 4 am on Tuesday after spending a month in the Governmental Hospital in Sofia including several days on life support.

During the 50s, Patriarch Maxim was a representative of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Moscow.

The Patriarch will be buried Friday at the Troyan Monastery in central northern Bulgaria.