Bulgaria marks 148 years of Liberation with solemn ceremonies. Events on the occasion of the national holiday are taking place throughout the country, BTA summarized.
In the capital, the celebrations began with a solemn ceremony of raising the national flag in front of the monument to the Unknown Soldier. The official ceremony was attended by Acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nikoleta Kuzmanova, Mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev, Acting Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov, Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov, representatives of the senior command staff of the Bulgarian Army, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil, senior clergymen of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and guests.
A ceremonial changing of the guard took place at 12:00 in front of the Presidential Administration building.
The celebrations in Sofia ended with a ceremonial torch-inspection in front of the historic building of the National Assembly and a reception at the Central Military Club. In her speech before the firing-inspection, President Iliana Yotova stated that March 3 is a measure for us, our belonging, memory and identity.
Shipka is a fortress of Bulgarian memory and it is not subject to any mischief, any division and any hatred, said the head of state Iliana Yotova in her solemn speech. In her words, on March 3, we open and read some of the most important pages of our centuries-old history.
For us Bulgarians, March 3 is the day of freedom. The freedom that we must cherish every moment, because it was won with the sacrifice of thousands of our and foreign heroes who gave their lives so that our Bulgaria could have it today. This was written by the Speaker of the 51st National Assembly, Raya Nazaryan, on the occasion of Bulgaria's national holiday.
Freedom is a question that we ask ourselves every day. And a decision that must be defended. This was said by the acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov on the occasion of the National Day of Bulgaria. In his words, freedom is a choice that is "sometimes inconvenient". A choice to think, not to be silent, not to be afraid of our own responsibility, Gyurov pointed out.
The Orthodox Church served thanksgiving prayers for the Liberation of Bulgaria.
Politicians sent their messages on the occasion of the holiday, calling for the preservation of the achieved freedom for future generations.
Heads of state and leaders from all over the world congratulated the Bulgarian people on the national day of our country in congratulatory addresses sent to President Iliana Yotova, the press secretariat of the head of state announced.
Bulgaria's national day was celebrated with a solemn ceremony near the Freedom Monument on Mount Shipka. The celebration began with the adoption of the formation by Iliana Yotova, after which a requiem prayer in memory of those who died for freedom was served by Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora.
The 148th anniversary of the Liberation of Bulgaria was marked with solemn events in Blagoevgrad. The celebrations began at 11:00 in the courtyard of the temple “Presentation of the Virgin“ with a memorial service for those who died for the Liberation of Bulgaria and the laying of flowers in front of the memorial sign of Major Ivan Pavlovich Orlinsky.
The anniversary of the Liberation of Bulgaria was marked with a solemn procession and military honors in Burgas. Representatives of the state and local authorities, citizens and guests of the seaside city paid tribute to the Monument to the Russian Liberators.
The celebrations on the occasion of the Third of March in Varna began with the raising of the national flag with a military ritual. The official ceremony was attended by the regional governor Atanas Mihov, mayor Blagomir Kotsev, the chairman of the Municipal Council Hristo Dimitrov, members of parliament, public figures, officers and many citizens. The formation of the representative units of the Varna garrison was accepted by the commander of the Bulgarian Navy, Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov.
A military ceremony was also held in the old capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo, on the occasion of 148 years since the Liberation of Bulgaria. March 3rd is a day of the ideal of freedom and love for Bulgaria, said the mayor of Veliko Tarnovo Daniel Panov in his solemn speech.
Vidin celebrated the national holiday with a solemn procession and historical reenactment.
In Vratsa, the solemn ceremony on the occasion of Bulgaria's national holiday took place on “Hristo Botev“ Square.
With a memorial service, procession, military ritual and laying of wreaths and flowers at the “Khan Asparuh“ Memorial Complex, Dobrich celebrated 148 years since the Liberation of Bulgaria.
With a procession of the representative blocks of the schools in Kardzhali along “Bulgaria“ Blvd., the celebrations on the occasion of March 3rd were traditionally started.
The celebration of the national holiday of – March 3rd began with a solemn ritual of raising the tricolor in Kyustendil, in front of the Bulair monument in the city center.
With a memorial service, a solemn ceremony and a military ritual in Lovech, tribute was paid to the heroes of the Liberation and the national holiday of Bulgaria was celebrated.
On the occasion of the national holiday of March 3rd, a ceremony of raising the national flag was held on the central square “Zheravitsa“ in Montana. The blessing of water and a requiem prayer for those who died in the liberation struggles were served by the protosingel of the Vidin Metropolis, Archimandrite Joakim. Wreaths and flowers were laid in front of the monument to those who died for national liberation.
With a procession with a 100-meter Bulgarian flag in Pazardzhik, March 3rd was celebrated. Citizens and guests of the city joined the procession with the tricolor along "Bulgaria" Boulevard in the city, after which the program continued with a festive concert on "Konstantin Velichkov" Square, with the participation of performers and artistic groups from the city.
A solemn ceremony was held in Pernik to mark the national holiday of Bulgaria – March 3. Dozens of city residents gathered in front of the Palace of Culture, where the national flag was raised to the sounds of the Bulgarian anthem.
The celebrations for the national holiday of March 3 began with a solemn ritual in front of the chapel-mausoleum "St. George the Victorious" in Pleven. "Vazrazhdane" Square was filled with Pleven residents who came to pay tribute to those who died for Bulgaria's freedom and to celebrate the historic anniversary.
On the Hill of the Liberators, Plovdiv solemnly celebrated Bulgaria's national holiday - March 3 and the 148th anniversary of the Liberation. The holiday began with a prayer service in the cathedral "Assumption of the Virgin Mary" served by Plovdiv Metropolitan Nikolay. In the evening, there was a solemn inspection-dawn on "Central" Square.
Over 300 Bulgarian tricolor flags fluttered on "Vazrazhdane" Square in Razgrad on the occasion of the national holiday. The flags were a gift from the Municipality to all who shared in the celebration of the holiday on the square.
March 3rd was celebrated in Ruse with a ceremony and a historical reenactment of "Free Bulgaria". The beginning was set in front of the Freedom Monument in the city center, where an honor guard was erected.
The festive events on the occasion of March 3rd began with a solemn ceremony on the central city square "Freedom" in Silistra. The festive program began with a prayer for the health and well-being of the Bulgarian people and the residents of the municipality.
The events dedicated to the national holiday began with a city-wide ceremony on "Hadji Dimitar" square in Sliven. At the beginning of the ceremony, the national flag was raised to the accompaniment of the national anthem.
Pamporovo celebrated the national holiday of March 3 with the Great Ski Downhill with costumes and flags from Snezhanka Peak. Over 2,000 skiers and snowboarders took part in the festive downhill, which has become a traditional event for the resort, said Stefan Prisadov, the executive director of “Pamporovo“ AD.
Thousands of residents and guests of Stara Zagora took part for the tenth time in the memorable procession “For Freedom... Let's raise the Bulgarian flag!“ and carried a 300-meter Bulgarian tricolor flag in their hands, walking the three-kilometer distance from the city center to the Memorial Complex “Defenders of Stara Zagora“.
Targovishte celebrates the national holiday with a prayer for health, a tribute to those who died for freedom and a folklore initiative on the central square.
With the 148-meter message "Proud Bulgarians", the anniversary of the Liberation, the national holiday of March 3 was celebrated in Dimitrovgrad. The one-meter-wide canvas ribbon was unfurled by over 200 students on the central boulevard "G. S. Rakovski".
With a requiem prayer and the laying of wreaths and flowers at the memorial plaques of the volunteers from Shumen and the region, the celebration of Bulgaria's national holiday began in the regional town.
Yambol celebrated the national holiday of March 3 and 148 years since the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke with a solemn military ritual, procession and worship in front of the Monument to Those Who Died for Freedom next to the Military Club.