The leadership of the 41st National Assembly met, on February 28, 2013, with His Holiness Patriarch Neofit. The  Deputy Chairs of the parliament  Ekaterina Mihaylova, Hristo Biserov and Pavel Shopov took part  in the meeting.
National Assembly President Tsetska Tsacheva underscored that the relations between the National Assembly and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church had  always been based on mutual respect and praised the role of the Church during the difficult years of the transition period. The election of the new Bulgarian patriarch, held in full compliance with the canon, was a brilliant example and lesson for the secular power to follow, said Tstetska Tsacheva. She wished His Holiness , Patriarch Neofit, good health and strength in carrying his highly responsible mission for the well-being and unity of  Bulgarian people.

His Holiness, Patriarch Neofit, thanked the president of the National Assembly, Tsetska Tsacheva, for the meeting and for her presence at his enthronement. He pointed to the importance of the Church and the secular authorities of keeping together, share and overcome difficult moments for the benefit of the Bulgarian people.
His Holiness, Patriarch Neofit, gave as present to the National Assembly’s President Tsetska Tsacheva,  the icon of St. Tsar Boris- Mihail the Baptist and a book about the history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Tsetska Tsacheva accepted the presents with gratitude and explained they will remain in the parliament’s head office as a sign of continuity.

The Bishop of Varna and Preslav, Kiril, the Bishop of  Veliko Tarnovo, Grigoriy, and the Metropolitan Joseph, the diocesan prelate of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia  took part in the meeting.