The former Bulgarian monarch Simeon of Saxe-Coburg returned to the historic peak of Shipka after 12 year absence. He visited the place, which is a symbol of the heroism and self-sacrifice of Bulgarian militiamen and Russian soldiers, together with one of his grandsons. The event is part of the celebrations of the 147th anniversary of the epic battles known as the Shipchen Epic.
Sakskoburggothski shared that he was extremely emotional and pointed to the place as one of the most important for Bulgarian history. He stated: “My feelings are personal, patriotic, and historical. It's a very special place, I hadn't been here for 12 years, so I got to experience that too.“ The former tsar also promised to tell his grandson more about the events that took place in this sacred place for Bulgarians.
Shipchen Pass and the peaks around it witnessed some of the most heroic moments in Bulgarian history. From August 21 to 23, 1877, Suleiman Pasha's troops faced the Russian-Bulgarian detachment led by General Nikolai Grigorievich Stoletov. The epic battles on Mount “Saint Nicholas” (today Mount Stoletov), Mount Shipka and Eagle's Nest were decisive for the outcome of the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation and Bulgaria's path to freedom.
Today, hundreds of Bulgarians are gathering on Mount Shipka to pay tribute to the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of the homeland. The celebrations of the Shipchen epic are part of the traditions that are handed down from generation to generation, reminding of the price of freedom and the obligation of every Bulgarian to protect it.