&bdquo ;On your way home, King Ferdinand“ the press service of Coburg covered the solemn farewell church service with which the residents of the city said goodbye to their illustrious fellow citizen.
Bulgarian King Ferdinand I is returning to his homeland after 76 years. After his death in exile in Coburg in 1948, his wish to be buried on Bulgarian soil has now been fulfilled. With a solemn service in Coburg, the former king was honored before his mortal remains were transferred to Sofia.
On Monday, Coburg said goodbye to the famous citizen with a church service in the Church of St. Augustine, which was also attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria in Berlin, Grigor Porozhanov.
„I am glad that today, so many years after his death, his great wish is fulfilled and his mortal remains find their way to Bulgaria. Today we once again thank King Ferdinand I for everything he did for Coburg, we wish him a safe final journey to his homeland and a permanent resting place in his second homeland Bulgaria, in his beloved palace “Vrana” in Sofia, said Mayor Dominique Sauerteig (from the Social Democratic Party of Germany).
King Ferdinand not only lived in Coburg for 30 years, but also felt connected to the city and did a lot for it. For example, he saved the court kindergarten, richly sponsored the Natural History Museum, supported the construction of the new Trade School, and from the mid-1920s made annual donations to the city's poor.
In 1942 he was made an honorary citizen of Coburg. Although this honor came from the National Socialist Party, King Ferdinand opposed the Nazis. As a staunch Catholic and a regular visitor to the church of “St. Augustine” he maintained close relations with members of the Jewish community in Coburg. For a long time he resisted being declared an honorary citizen and did not take the title personally. His appointment certificate has been delivered to his home.
Ambassador Grigor Porozhanov thanked the residents of Coburg for keeping the coffin for 76 years. The head of the church, Prof. Dr. Helmut Kolo, said with sadness that King Ferdinand will be missed by Coburg and St. Augustine's Church, but will always be present in Coburg through his good deeds.
„We will always honor his memory”, Colo said.