“No matter what temple we pray in, the aspirations of the human heart are the same in both joy and anxiety. Faith lives in each of us, no matter what language we pray in”. With these words, President Iliana Yotova welcomed the guests of the traditional iftar dinner on the occasion of the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.
The gala dinner, traditionally hosted by the head of state, was attended by representatives of both the Muslim and other traditional religious communities in our country. Among the guests were representatives of state institutions, the diplomatic corps, figures from the spheres of spirituality, culture, education and science.
Yotova pointed out that it is a privilege and a national achievement of Bulgarians of all ethnicities and religions to live in peace and understanding, especially in today's troubled world. “In this regard, Bulgaria is an example in Europe and the world“, the head of state emphasized.
In her greeting, Iliyana Yotova noted that both Christians and Muslims are honest people who struggle hard for their bread and for a better life for their children. “We share our bread, we are together in successes and adversity. The nostalgia for the homeland of the expatriates and the sadness of an entire generation that often sees its grandchildren only from the phone screen are common,“ the president pointed out.
“The common desire is to preserve our bequeathed wisdom to live in harmony and to pass it on to our children who play together on the neighborhood street. We need this tolerance and this understanding for Bulgaria to develop,“ the head of state stated.