Today marks 117 years since the declaration of Bulgaria's independence. Traditionally, the center of the celebrations is Veliko Tarnovo, where on September 22, 1908, the end of Bulgaria's vassalage by the Ottoman Empire was declared. Prince Ferdinand proclaimed independence with a manifesto, read in the church of "Holy 40 Martyrs", and then in the fortress of "Tsarevets". The Speaker of the National Assembly Natalia Kiselova is participating in the celebration, BNR specifies.
The celebration began with a solemn liturgy in the Ivan-Assen temple "St. 40 Martyrs". Regarding the significance of the holiday, historian Prof. Milko Palangurski stated:
"A holiday of maturation, because both nations and states, and vice versa, need to grow and find their place in the political, cultural and social life of the world".
We need common goals to follow, historian Prof. Petko Petkov commented on the lessons of Independence:
"By constantly struggling, we will not reach even half of the path that our state and the rulers walked until 1908 to achieve this great goal without bloodshed"..
Independence is a holiday, but also a feeling of the spirit, share the people of Veliko Tarnovo:
"The independence of Bulgaria is the political act that the Bulgarians won alone, without the help and against the Great forces". "Let us remember that many things depend on us, including those that are happening in our time. A holiday in which we remember how difficult it was for us to achieve what we take for granted today and that there is still much for us, ourselves, to do".
In the courtyard of the church "St. 40 Martyrs", a water blessing ceremony will be held, and actors from the Veliko Tarnovo Theater will read the text of the manifesto..
The celebrations in Veliko Tarnovo continue in the "Tsarevets" fortress, where at 10:30 a.m. the Bulgarian National Radio will broadcast live the military ritual of raising the national flag of Bulgaria.