the “Bishop Konstantin of Preslav” Shumen University became the center of a plenary academic session marking 1,160 years since the baptism of the Bulgarian people and 1,170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet The event was attended by Vice President of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova the host Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav representatives of local and state authorities and many Orthodox Christians were also present Vice President Iotova emphasized that “it was near Shumen – in Pliska and Veliki Preslav – that the foundations of a nation and a state were laid a nation rightfully called the spiritual empire of Europe.” Patriarch Daniel highlighted: “The choice made 1,160 years ago by our equal-to-the-apostles Baptizer was indeed decisive and momentous This choice and this tremendous mission remain a constant challenge for us today Boris-Michael and all who dedicated their talents and lives to building and preserving Christian Bulgaria throughout the centuries.” He called on all present: “Study with diligence the work of St and all their collaborators and successors Be worthy imitators and continuers of their mission Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav also addressed the audience stating that: “The baptism of the Bulgarian people in 865 and their Christianization through the activity of the Church founded by Prince Boris in 870—which later became the national Orthodox Bulgarian Church—brought about a profound transformation in all aspects of Bulgarian cultural life It marked a true ontological change in their spiritual being.” Academic presentations were delivered by Prof Ekaterina Damyanova of Sofia University “St Dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Veliko Tarnovo “Sts This event concluded three festive days dedicated to the two major anniversaries—the baptism of the Bulgarian people and the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet The full session is available on the Holy Synod’s official YouTube channel A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. The holy Great Martyr Irene was born in the city of Magedon in Persia during the fourth century Archbishop Elpidophoros of America arrived at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap 2025—the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women—Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Patriarchal and Concelebratory Divine.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website At an academic session commemorating 1,160 years since Bulgaria's Christianization and 1,170 years since the creation of the Glagolitic alphabet Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliki Preslav emphasized the significance of canonizing Bishop Constantine of Preslav The event took place at Shumen University on Saturday He said a formal request for canonization was submitted to the Holy Synod during the time of the late Patriarch Neophyte Metropolitan John stressed that the canonization holds great importance both for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the local diocese He noted that unlike other disciples of Saints Cyril and Methodius Constantine of Preslav was not canonized and remained largely forgotten by both scholars and the Church until the 19th century Metropolitan John described Constantine as a major figure in the cultural and spiritual transformation that followed Bulgaria's Christianization - an era that marked a profound renewal of the Bulgarian people's cultural and creative identity Positioning Constantine of Preslav alongside Saint Clement of Ohrid Metropolitan John called Bishop Constantine one of the most prolific writers among the disciples of Cyril and Methodius and a key architect of Old Bulgarian literature and identity whose legacy is fittingly honoured in the name of Konstantin Preslavsky Shumen University The celebrations of the two major anniversaries were organized by the Metropolitanate of Varna and Veliki Preslav Contacts +359 2 9262 210 By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages marks 1160 years since the baptism of our Bulgarian people into the Orthodox faith and 1170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet and Slavic literature the Varna and Veliki Preslav Bishopric Metropolis is organizing solemn celebrations in the period May 1-3 A Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Varna and a prayer service will be held in the courtyard of the Great Basilica near Pliska where a solemn festive concert will also be held a scientific session dedicated to the significant anniversaries will be held at the Shumen University "Bishop Konstantin Preslavski" "You must have strong faith and pray - then the saint will help you and carry your prayer to God," says Father Georgi Markov of the Church of St Athanasius the Great in Gorni Lozen near Sofia He adds that he has often witnessed the miracles of St. Bulgaria celebrates 149 years since the April Uprising – an event that led to the liberation of Bulgaria after almost five centuries of Ottoman rule we must not forget that every participant in the April. The introduction of the subject "Virtues and Religions" in schools is not aimed at indoctrinating children Patriarch Daniil said in an interview for public service TV BNT english@bnr.bg Too many automated requests from this network Europe provides opportunities and therefore it is necessary to learn said Veliki Preslav Mayor Yanko Yordanov at the Europe in the Balkans: Together through Knowledge conference in the northeastern town on Friday The freedom to know nourishes the power of the spirit Yordanov noted that it is perhaps not by chance that the town hosts the opening conference of BTA's new project and commented that the date of November 1 is important revolutionaries and those who bequeathed to future generations the pursuit of knowledge and national identity "Veliki Preslav is a town that has left a lasting and bright mark in our national history with its achievements in the fields of culture the Golden Age of Bulgaria is a period that outlined the cultural development of the country for centuries a period of consolidation of Bulgarian civilization which surpassed the boundaries of the Bulgarian state and the development of Europe even then The Europe in the Balkans: Together through Knowledge project is a continuation of the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects The main objective of the project will be to provide objective and comprehensive information and an accurate overall picture of the European Union's cohesion policy in all Bulgarian regions Special emphasis will be placed on skills and knowledge as an engine for regional development in the period from November 2024 to September 2025 BTA will organize discussions in its regional press clubs in the following cities: Blagoevgrad BTA will also hold cross-border conferences in Belgrade Pope Francis has expressed deep sorrow at learning of the passing of Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria The head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church died of a multi-organ failure on 13 March at the age of 78 to the Metropolitan Yoan of Varna and Veliki Preslav the Pope remembered the “valued service to the Gospel and to dialogue” of His Holiness Neofit who had succeeded late Patriarch Maxim February 24 “Despite his many sufferings” said the Pope he  “remained a man of humility and joy an example of a life consecrated to the Lord and his Church”.  it is our prayerful hope that His Holiness Neofit is now living ‘where there is neither sorrow nor pain nor groaning’ Pope Francis concluded his message by assuring Meropolitan Yoan the Holy Synod and all the members of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church “of a special remembrance in my prayers conquered death by his death and gave us life’  may fill your hearts with consolation and peace.” Patriarch Neofit had met with Pope Francis during his Apostolic Journey to Bulgaria in May 2019. Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here Pope Francis offered his condolences following the death of His Holiness Neofit Metropolitan of Sofia and Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church The following is the English text of the Holy Father’s telegram which was sent to Metropolitan Yoan of Varna and Veliki Preslav I learned with deep sorrow of the death of your beloved Patriarch who was a great witness to the faith of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and to the entire Bulgarian Orthodox Church His Holiness Neofit gave valued service to the Gospel and to dialogue and despite his many sufferings remained a man of humility and joy an example of a life consecrated to the Lord and his Church Since the Body of Christ on earth — the Church — is the gateway into the life of the Risen Lord death marks a passage from this world to Life Eternal it is our prayerful hope that His Holiness Neofit is now living “where there is neither sorrow nor pain nor groaning” (Trisagion for the dead) the Holy Synod and all the members of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church of a special remembrance in my prayers conquered death by his death and gave us life” (Paschal Troparion) may fill your hearts with consolation and peace L'Osservatore Romano00120 Vatican City.All rights reserved © 1999-2015 Православие.Ru При перепечатке ссылкана Православие.Ru обязательна Контактная информация Today the body of Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria will be laid in state in the Church of St as announced by Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliki Preslav the Metropolitan presided over the Trisagion service to honor the late Patriarch He urged the faithful to come to the church and pray for the Patriarch “Yesterday His Holiness went to be with the Lord This sad news has shaken the Bulgarian Orthodox Church His Holiness left a lasting mark on the recent history of our Church He was also an exceptional chanter; one could recognize his voice among thousands The hymns he sang are a treasure of church music,” Metropolitan John emphasized The Pagan Bulgaria is shown at the beginning of the exposition The Bulgarians participated in different state formations during nearly three centuries – of the Huns the Turks and the Avars – the period of formation and development of the state–creative processes among them Their first independent state was Great Bulgaria founded by Khan Kubrat (632 – 665) in the basins of the rivers Dnieper and Kuban Proof of its military and political power is the treasure from Malaya Pereshchepina Replicas of a part of the Malaya Pereshchepina treasure which was identified as a stock from the grave of Khan Kubrat are shown in the exhibition Under the pressure of the Khazars at the end of the 4th century the Bulgarians took away by force from Byzantium the area between the Carpathian Mountains and the Balkan Range and founded the Bulgarian Khanate on the Danube (681 – 864) The Slav tribes settled in those lands in the 6th century They played a relatively independent part in the Bulgarian Khanate The stone columns with inscriptions shown in the exposition are a proof of the strong feelings of the Bulgarians about state organization and historical memory The insignia of power shown in the exhibition – a medallion of Khan Omurtag belt appliqués and replicas of metal vessels (the treasure of Nagi Szent Miklos the tumbler of Zhupan Sivin) – illustrate the cult figure of the Khan and the role of the tribal aristocracy among the Bulgarians The monuments showing the way of life of the ordinary population do not bear ethnical and cultural determinations The acceptance of Christianity in 864 strengthened the position of the supreme autocratic power and speeded the process of consolidating of the Bulgarian nation and of building of uniform culture In the 9th and the 10th century the Bulgarian state was a mighty political power and a factor of first significance in Europe Significant evidences of its political advance are the ruler’s seals – molybdobullae – of Kniaz (Prince) Boris – Michael (852 – 889) Tsar (King) Simeon the Great (893 – 927) and his successor Tsar (King) Peter (927 – 970) The Chronicle of Ioannes Skylitzes provided information on important political events and was the main source on the Bulgarian history in this period The Old-Bulgarian culture registered its Golden Age The stone plastic art and decorative painted ceramics from the capital Veliki Preslav (one of the main cultural centres in Southeastern Europe) rich collections of vessels and adornments illustrate the high achievements in the field of the applied arts At the end of the 10th century under the pressure of Byzantium the State centre was transferred to the Western Bulgarian areas Tsar (King) Samuil (991 – 1014) took the lead of the struggle for defending the political independence Of great historical value is the only surviving gravestone epitaph the well – known Samuil’s inscription commemorating his parents and oldest brother During the period of the Byzantine rule (1018 – 1185) marked by a number of uprisings against the alien rule Byzantine cultural and state traditions were established on the Bulgarian lands but the Bulgarian nationality preserved its historical memory 3 shows evidences of the political and church history the power and riches of the rulers and aristocracy the boom of the mediaeval town and crafts during the 12th – 14th century – a period known as the Second Bulgarian Empire Here the museum exposition starts with some of the preserved up to now portraits of Bulgarian rulers from that time as well as with their personnel belongings The biggest Bulgarian gold mediaeval ring (61.15g) which belonged to Tsar (King) Kaloyan (1197 – 1207) is shown at the very beginning of the western part of the Room Eleven treasures in total – rich and expensive adornments made of gold and silver as well as coins – give an idea of the ruler’s and aristocratic costumes and way of life as well as of the numerous goldsmith’s techniques and master’s skills silver and jade as well as bronze and lead objects providing evidence of the fate of the Mediaeval Bulgarian attest to the history of the Ohrid archbishopric which succeeded the glory of the first Bulgarian patriarchs the award ceremony of the first International Forum "Great Preslav – History of a People" is to be held under the auspices of Vice President Iliyana Yotova Literary and artistic works by pupils from different parts of Bulgaria and 10 foreign countries The city established in the 9th century was the capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom the seat of the first Bulgarian literary school and a cultural center of the Slavic world in that era Organizers want the forum to become an annual event coordinator and chairman of “Rodova Pamet” organization for art "I shed so many tears of joy when I received the works – 41 poems and 67 essays They are shockingly good and were written by children living outside Bulgaria The children portray their ancestors leaving Bulgaria with tears in their eyes Each child will receive a certificate of participation and a copy of the book ‘Preslav Legends’ – published 50 years ago for the first time and recently reprinted in Shoumen and given to us as a donation My idea is to send online essays and drawings that took part in the forum to all 400 Bulgarian schools around the world Active participants in the forum are the Bessarabian Bulgarians from the Taraklia region in Moldova This is the result of an agreement signed in December last year between "Rodova Pamet" and a foundation from the region working with 12 local schools where a total of 2798 children from the 1st to the 12th grade study as well as 7 kindergartens with 624 children Interest in Bulgaria and Bulgarian language is confirmed by the fact that on April 12,13 and 14than Olympiad in Bulgarian language will be held in Moldova a similar project is to be developed together with Serbia "The exhibition of children's works will be arranged at the Archaeological Museum in Veliki Preslav We hope that the exhibition will be presented at the National Library in Sofia We are also working on publishing a book with some of the essays we have received Our main goal is to promote and strengthen cultural and historical heritage of Bulgaria and our contribution to the development of European and world culture." Only on the Day of Bravery and Holiday of the Bulgarian Army (May 6) we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three of perhaps the most interesting machines from our outdoor exhibition Dozens of enthusiasts and nature lovers will kick off the 44th edition of the Move and Win campaign with a spring hike to Bozhur Hut The meeting point will be the Vladishki Bridge in Veliko Tarnovo The third edition of the Samardala Festival will be held on 3 May in the central square of Nova Zagora is used as a spice and is harvested at the peak of its flowering in May we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three. Since Bulgaria's accession to the European Union this country has received BGN 16.7 billion from cohesion funds Head of the European Commission's Representation in Bulgaria at the Europe of The Balkans: Together through Knowledge conference in Veliki Preslav on Friday She noted that more than BGN 35 billion are available for the 2021-2027 programming period and emphasised that thanks to these investments in the public sector Bulgaria's GDP grew from 35% to 60% of the EU average "There is still much to be desired and done the question is how to make the investment of European funds improve people's standard of living as much as possible" and that is why a large part of the funds for the period up to 2020 were directed specifically to infrastructure which represent about 10% of the entire network" adding that about 15,000 jobs have been created in small and medium-sized enterprises as well The countries that we would like Bulgaria to get closer to are those in which education and science are best developed" she commented and pointed out that investments in knowledge and education have always been a priority for Bulgarians "The source of wealth today is not so much the result of natural resources or geographical location but of the knowledge and skills that transform raw materials into new high-tech goods and services with high added value," Chobanova said "Competitiveness depends on the ability of countries to act beyond their national borders in order to realise their economy," she stressed A highly qualified workforce is the next element especially in areas such as digital technologies Under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Bulgaria will invest over BGN 800,000 in the four schools in Veliki Preslav and build STEM laboratories in each one of them so that students can develop skills that are close to solving real world problems students will be better prepared for jobs in high-tech industries such as information technology On the occasion of National Awakeners' Day and the history of Veliki Preslav Chobanova stressed that education and science are the basis for achieving successful growth which the citizens of Bulgaria and Europe deserve An academic session marking 1,160 years since the Christianization of Bulgaria and 1,170 years since the creation of the Glagolitic alphabet was held at the Konstantin Preslavsky Shumen University on Saturday Vice President Iliana Iotova said it was her mission to achieve reinstating Bulgarian Studies to its rightful place in global academia Iotova highlighted the Christianization of Bulgaria in 865 under Prince Boris as a pivotal state act equating its significance to the founding of the state in 681 This move allowed Bulgaria to influence the geopolitical dynamics of Europe and preserved the nation's ethnic identity in the face of internal and external threats Iotova emphasized that language and faith became inseparable forces with the Bulgarian alphabet and literature playing a crucial role in the survival unity and identity of the Bulgarian people The Bulgarian language played a role in the Slavic world comparable to that of Latin in Western Europe She honoured the historic role of Pliska and Veliki Preslav near Shumen as the birthplace of a nation and a state that justifiably claims the title of Europe's spiritual empire Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil addressed the participants in the academic session saying: "Our duty is to preserve the achievement of the saintly Prince Boris-Michael the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius and their successors in time by glorifying their memory and diligently studying their work." He emphasized the personal and sovereign choice of the saintly ruler the steps he took to strengthen and consolidate Christianity and the Church in Bulgaria as well as the subsequent unprecedented flowering of spirituality and scholarship which continue to be the subject of study and reflection to this day Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliki Preslav emphasized the significance of canonizing Bishop Constantine of Preslav. He said a formal request for canonization was submitted to the Holy Synod during the time of the late Patriarch Neophyte The canonization holds great importance both for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the local diocese the Metropolitan said. He noted that unlike other disciples of Saints Cyril and Methodius Prof. Pavel Pavlov from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia delivered a lecture on the deep interconnection between the ruler He said the two anniversaries were fittingly celebrated on the feast day of St Prince Boris the ruler whose legacy embodies the founding pillars of Bulgaria's historical endurance: statehood Pavlov described Prince Boris not just as a political leader but as a saintly figure who personifies this triade supported the drive for an independent Bulgarian Church and created the conditions for the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius' disciples which led to the development of the Bulgarian alphabet and literary tradition The academic session was unveiled by Vice President Iotova The guests at the opening of the session also included Shumen Regional Governor Katya Ivanova Georgi Valchev, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev Vice President Iliana Iotova emphasized the need to restore Bulgarian Studies to its rightful place in global academia She addressed the participants in an academic session marking 1,160 years since the Christianization of Bulgaria and 1,170 years since the creation of the Glagolitic alphabet She described it as her mission to achieve reinstating Bulgarian Studies to its rightful place and thanked her fellow advocates in it the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Bulgarian universities "If it were not for the statesmanlike act of Prince Boris it is uncertain whether our tribes would not have been assimilated She recalled that the transformation did not happen easily - there were internal uprisings and there is evidence of their suppression is revealed not only in official literature but also in apocryphal texts and in people's memory She linked the adoption of Christianity directly to the reception of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the development of the Glagolitic which unified the Bulgarian people and acted as a barrier against assimilation Old Bulgarian became the third liturgical language in Christendom marking a second major success for Prince Boris Bulgaria became the spiritual and cultural centre of the Eastern Slavic world Manuscripts written in Bulgarian letters spread across East and West; today they serve more than 250 million people the world over The Vice President concluded by honouring the historic role of Pliska and Veliki Preslav near Shumen as the birthplace of a nation and a state that justifiably claims the title of Europe's spiritual empire Guests at the plenary academic session at Shumen University included Vice President Iliana Iotova Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil The celebrations marking 1,160 years since the Christianization of the Bulgarian people and 1,170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet were organized by the Metropolitanate of Varna and Veliki Preslav Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova told reporters here on Friday that the anniversary of Bulgaria's Christianization is major cause for reflection made a decision that would affect his heirs but Kiselova attended a solemn service on the occasion of the 1,160th anniversary of the conversion of the Bulgarian people and the 1,170th anniversary of the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet The service organized by the Varna and Veliki Preslav Metropolitanates was held at the Great Basilica in Pliska The Parliament Chair said that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church who organized the service should be supported as it turns the focus not just to Orthodoxy but to Bulgaria's choice to take a path that would eventually unite the three major ethnic groups that made up the first Bulgarian state (existing between 681 and 1018) The service in Pliska was held by Patriarch Daniil Among the attendees was Vice President Iliana Iotova Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova facing a member of the Bulgarian Orthdox Church On the occasion of 1160 years since the baptism of the Bulgarian people and 1170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet and Slavic literature Secretary General of the Holy Synod read a patriarchal and synodal message at the conciliar holy liturgy in the Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral in Varna literature and rich culture preserve us to this day as a people with our own face before the world and with our proven and universally recognized contribution to the European and world spiritual and cultural treasury,” said Bishop Gerasim we celebrate the memory of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Bulgarian Prince Boris I Michael the Baptist cultural and civilizational choice that our people have made throughout their thousand-year history full of vicissitudes,” the message states Bishop Gerasim recalled that the Varna and Veliki Preslav diocese is hosting a series of festive events with which the Holy Orthodox Church The liturgy was led by the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil assisted by members of the Holy Synod and Varna priests The liturgy was also attended by university rectors Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev has left for Washington where he will participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (May 5-7 The forum is organised by the Munich Security Conference The foundation Unity- Kočani has sent an open letter to key Bulgarian institutions expressing gratitude for the support and humanitarian assistance provided by Bulgaria after the tragedy of the fire at a nightclub in Kočani The foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Greece Georg Georgiev and Giorgos Gerapetritis signed a joint declaration on the use of the waters of the river Arda on 2 May the BNR reports citing an announcement published by the Greek Foreign Ministry.. people will be able to withdraw money  from ATMs only in the new currency according to the website of the Bulgarian. helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force will fly at low altitude over Sofia in preparation for a military parade marking the Day. The Bulgarian student teams that participated in the European Olympiad of Experimental Sciences EOES 2025 in Zagreb have returned with. Ivanka Dimova has embarked on an unequal battle with bureaucracy prejudice and indifference to provide a home for every street dog in a small Bulgarian town today Veliki Preslav finally has its own dog shelter "We make sure we are warm in the winter," says Ivanka Dimova but her biggest concern is to find blankets to wrap the newborn puppies The former zoo corner is starting to look more and more like a real shelter and she does not hide her satisfaction with this fact "We are now in the process of construction To improve the conditions in the shelter and to provide food for the dogs Bärbel Ostmann from the German association Streunernothilfe Grenzenlos lent her a helping hand The municipality is also involved with BGN 15,000 per year There are still no employed staff in the shelter so Ivanka Dimova relies on enthusiastic volunteers to take care of the animals whatever efforts are made until the state forces dog owners to take responsibility the swarm of homeless animals will not stop "There are a lot of baby puppies - they let them out of the houses There was almost no uncastrated dog in the town and suddenly this spring 5-6 mothers appeared and continue to throw them away - pregnant If there is no strong law for domestic animals nearly 90 dogs from the shelter in Veliki Preslav have been adopted abroad and over 80 have found a family in Bulgaria Ivanka Dimova insists in his or her contract that he or she will required to send information about how the dogs feel in their new home One of the happy moments for the benefactress is when her adoptive parents call to thank her that their newly adopted dog is not scared of them "Those people who have adopted animals from other shelters say that my animals are very social," she says proudly “I manage to accustom them to the human presence with activities In the morning I first go to each cage to see if they are healthy seeing every day that the animals she has saved from a painful fate are happy "It doesn't matter if I'm a hero," says Ivanka Dimova “The important thing is that I go to bed with a clear conscience at night I have gone through hell because I experience the suffering of every animal in distress.” Compiled by Diana Tsankova (based on an interview of Rosalina Cherneva Visitor to the National Archaeological Museum have the opportunity to see the biggest medieval treasure of Bulgaria – that from Veliki Preslav The most representative finds from the period of grandeur of the second Bulgarian medieval capital of Veliki Preslav are displayed in the halls of the museum in a temporary exhibition entitled "To the gates of ruler's court: Treasures from Veliki Preslav" 9th-century gold ornaments and jewelry are on display for the first time since restoration and analysis at the Roman-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz They have arrived back to Bulgaria after the world saw them exposed in the Louvre the Varna and Veliki Preslav Bishopric Metropolis. Skip to content Claudia Dalby speaks to participants of the European voluntary program about their experiences abroad and what the program means for wider EU engagement By Claudia Dalby | Mar 19 2020 Alexander Marshall made a spontaneous decision to take part in the European Solidarity Corps: “One morning I woke up in my flat in Sweden with a text.” It was an offer from the volunteering online platform which he had signed up to and noted a preference for Eastern European countries Alexander worked as an administrative volunteer for the Open Space Foundation overseeing an archaeological renovation project in Veliki Preslav in eastern Bulgaria Chairwoman of the Open Space Foundation Pepa Peneva Veleva told the University Observer about the project historical place - our second oldest capital we are working with local people to resolve a range of problems [caused by] young people emigrating because of the lack of opportunities for work and development an aging population and a very low budget for infrastructure.” The project has led to huge changes in the community “It was so hard to convince them to rent their big empty houses to accommodate the volunteers.” and the town has transformed with tourism and business “We are so excited to observe how the town is changed each year and seen how this program changes mentalities Maybe this is one of the best programs of the EU.” Alexander described the experience as “absolutely unforgettable The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) was launched in 2016 by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker with the spirit of solidarity directed towards the refugee crises that was hitting Europe hard at the time “Young people across the EU will be able to volunteer their help where it is needed most like the refugee crisis or the recent earthquakes in Italy,” Juncker said in his 2016 State of the Union address The program was a relaunch of the original European Voluntary Service altered for broader appeal and with the idea to expand the number of activities The new online platform allows young people and organisations to connect with one another and reach out with offers for short- or long-term stays 200,000 young Europeans between the ages 18 and 30 have registered online to participate in an international voluntary program The relaunch also supports a broader idea of solidarity: that solidarity grows when someone is given an opportunity but also when the first step is taken by themselves The non-profit organisation Leargas manages ESC funding in Ireland where there are 60 active organisations receiving international volunteers each year Leargas ESC Coordinator Suzanne Kavanagh spoke of a new funding wing of the program where youth community groups can apply to address issues in their community “The idea is building solidarity within the community There are seven ongoing solidarity projects in Ireland at the moment climate action and supporting language barriers to refugees.” Participants receive €500 total funding to work on a solidarity project and they can also apply for a project coach for guidance towards achieving their goals Kavanagh emphasises the overall aim of the program is that “it should not cost a young person anything or have any barriers to participation - even if that means extra supports [will be provided] This means that volunteers need not spend a penny during their stay A key framework of the European Solidarity Corps is that volunteers receive between €280-400 a month for personal spending money which Kavanagh describes as “essential.”  The ESC is funded under the Erasmus+ initiative which has funded university exchanges for over 10 million students Investment in the future of young people is a hallmark of the EU project and Erasmus+ is by far one of its most well-known initiatives towards engagement With 1,420 Irish volunteers registered so far Leargas has received 25% more Erasmus+ funding in the past year to increase numbers within Ireland Irish levels of support for the EU are continually among the highest in the bloc so why does the country have some of the lowest involvement in a program offering free access to voluntary projects “The biggest barrier we’ve found is that the name ‘Solidarity Corps’ doesn’t immediately tell you what the project is,” says Kavanagh they realise there are so many opportunities for experience and organisations to be involved with.” EU citizens can also apply for jobs and traineeships through the ESC This increases the accessibility of Erasmus+ as you do not need to be a student to apply Kerry native Ellen O’Doherty spent a month working under the August heat in Greece When I came back I told all my friends to look up the Corps because it was amazing They kept it going so they started to need volunteers.” soon to start her final year of university was recommended the ESC as a way to get out of Ireland for the summer “I knew I wanted to go to the Mediterranean and a lot of traditional Greek food and music Most of the volunteering projects are quite labour intensive which was challenging because it was like 39 degrees It was similar to [volunteering at] an Irish festival in that you came in and did your work but you always got a couple of hours off Fundraising is often a crucial barrier to equal access for many who want to volunteer internationally as some programs require participants to fundraise their flights accommodation or other costs in order to participate.  Self-funding requirements instate a barrier to those who cannot easily access funds within their community and who may miss out on opportunities to volunteer abroad or travel internationally at all Increasing equal opportunity initiatives has been widely successful according to Irish MEP Mairead McGuiness.“With this in mind for the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027 the Commission is proposing a new programme for the ESC beyond 2020 with €1.26bn to further broaden the opportunities it offers,” she told the University Observer The program is intended as an initiative of solidarity going beyond international borders - ordenot just EU Volunteer programs are located in the 27 EU member states West Asia and North Africa are entitled to apply for volunteer projects Turkey has the highest number of registrations with Russia and Morocco also showing high levels of involvement With the program open to those who may be otherwise held back by ‘Fortress Europe’ the hope is that the program will continue to expand by allowing solidarity projects and organisation funding outside the EU so the hand of solidarity is extended to young people from countries such as Syria Egypt and Lebanon to take the opportunity to travel and develop themselves The European Solidarity Corps ethos fits straightforwardly into a vaster narrative of European-wide engagement where individuals are given the opportunity to do something that wouldn’t be possible without a cohesive the EU has known it has a citizen engagement issue Only 4 in 10 of 2019 Eurobarometer participants are aware of an EU co-financed project in their area and this is a significant increase from previous years Millions are spent each year in communication campaigns promoting EU policies to citizens Feelings of citizen detachment from the EU reside in a lack of understanding of its complicated processes it's clear that many Europeans are not substantially engaging with the EU outside of passing signs marking local infrastructure as EU funded Citizen engagement issues are rooted in EU initiatives coming from the top-down rather than bottom-up the EU is supporting the opportunity for open dialogue between young people and established charities or organisations the involvement of the EU has the possibility to be seen as positive rather than imposed Engagement with community and opportunity based projects can lead to positive outcomes from the individual level of satisfied volunteers to the improved community spirit in Veliki Preslav or in Ireland with homelessness charity Peter McVerry Trust.  Natasza Wdowicka is the European Solidarity Corps coordinator for Peter McVerry Trust she was a volunteer for the then European Voluntary Service This experience had been a key part of her career “Organisations might not see the impact of the program right away But I can see the impact it has had on me now Peter McVerry Trust has received a total of 23 ESC volunteers since 2011 and say that receiving volunteers is part of an important learning dialogue for both parties where the benefit for them is receiving the funding and an outsider with new experience Natasza is above enthusiastic about the personal development volunteering for the program offers “It really gives you the chance to not focus on day-to-day difficulties and have a chance to give back Volunteers try things they would never try if they stayed at home 30-year-old volunteer Klara from the Czech Republic is an experienced social worker and came to Ireland in October to volunteer for one year with Peter McVerry Trust as an upskilling opportunity I would be collecting good practice by experiencing social work abroad I could bring experience with the Housing First initiative to the Czech Republic.” Volunteers in Dublin receive the higher end of the monthly allowance Klara has found that the allowance could be plenty of money in a smaller town but the high cost of living in Dublin means it does not go a long way travel around Ireland and spend time meaningfully but I have to budget for food and daily transport.” they know my competencies and what I can offer the service is very overwhelmed at the moment but the challenges are the same in all countries to think about their future and find out about themselves They can practise their creative thinking and implement ideas in a new country They can network and have contacts in an international social sphere.” Upon the increasing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic Klara updated the University Observer that she and some volunteers in Ireland had gone back to their home countries but government recommendations were to get home asap We were told that we cannot be on the front line as a precaution I want to mention my thanks to the Housing First team - the chance to be part of this team is just unique I hope it will be possible to come back when this is over.” European Solidarity Corps projects and registration can be found on the European Youth Portal Young people can register for the European Solidarity Corps at 17 years old, but cannot start an activity until reaching the age of 18. European Solidarity Corps projects are available to people up to the age of 30 years old. FAQs and the full list of participating countries can be found here “Women are second-class citizens in Ireland”- Lack of awareness and medical negligence surrounding endometriosis in Ireland 14,500 Vacant Properties and 15,000 Homeless in Ireland: What can we learn from Manchester’s famous squats ‘Grow Up and Move On’: Northern Irish Students Talks About Their Experience In UCD “I don’t like the feeling of a seatbelt”: Do Young People Care About Road Safety E: editor@universityobserver.ie T: +353 1 716 3835 Copyright  |  Terms of Use  |  Privacy Policy  |  Cookie Policy  |  Subscribe  |  Write for Us Website by House of Design Learn More Today was the second day of national mourning when Bulgaria bids farewell to its spiritual shepherd Patriarch Neophyte Hundreds of believers and clerics from Bulgaria and abroad flocked to the patriarchal cathedral St Alexander Nevsky to see His Holiness the Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia Neophyte off on his final journey The Bulgarian patriarch passed away after a protracted illness on 13 March The funeral mass was attended by President Rumen Radev and Vice President Iliana Iotova Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov and Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel the President of the National Assembly Rosen Zhelyazkov the President of Bulgaria from 2002 until 2012 Georgi Parvanov the last Bulgarian monarch and former Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha The mass was officiated by Metropolitan Yoan of Varna and Veliki Preslav interim head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church The funeral mass was followed by a funeral service presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who arrived in Bulgaria with a large church delegation together with representatives of the local Orthodox churches and with bishops from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church “I shall not forget the words of the patriarch that believing in goodness is what should unite us and hold us together as a nation,” President Radev told reporters “Today is a sad day for Bulgaria and for all of us,” said on his part Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew the mortal remains of the Bulgarian patriarch were taken in liturgical procession to the metropolitan cathedral St The patriarch’s mortal remains were carried by carriage the same carriage used to send Tsar Boris III off on his final earthly journey The mortal remains of Patriarch Neophyte were laid to rest on the Southern side of the St In the end let us go back to one of Patriarch Neophyte behests from November 2021 He said: “May the all-merciful God generously bestow on us wisdom and judiciousness love of our fellow men and consideration for others of the scourge of our times – insensitivity of others which are the hardest obstacles on our way towards Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.” HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? A charity event was held to gather money for a new car for Varna Bishop Kiril in front of the main cathedral in the Bulgarian city Sunday Metropolitan bishop for Varna and Veliki Preslav Kiril gained notoriety early December when he turned up for service in a luxury Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Sunday activists from nationalist Bulgarian website Buditeli.net gathered donations in front of the Varna Dormition of Mary Cathedral for a new car since it turned out the Lincoln was owned by businessmen friends of Kiril "We wanted to wreak irony of the impudence and abuse by so-called "spiritual men" in Bulgaria They only contribute to degrading Christianity in the eyes of Bulgarians," commented an indignant activists Bishop Kiril appeared in his luxury car for service at the great Christian Orthodox holiday St. Nicholas' Day, December 6. He went on to brag that he owned a car model from next year which was still not released for regular sale adding that "Only US President Barack Obama drives such a car." This immediately provoked outcry among Bulgarian laity. Contrary to reports issued a day later, metropolitan Kiril did not resign from office It later transpired that the Lincoln is owned by the Armira 2010 company the owners of which are close to Kiril and participate in the bishopric's board of trustees We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria A serious traffic accident in the Bulgarian town of Harmanli has left a 13-year-old child in critical condition after he was struck by a car while riding an electric scooter A wind farm project proposed in Bulgaria’s Varna region has sparked public outcry Bulgaria Air has launched a new seasonal direct route between Varna Bulgaria has been ranked the second most affordable wellness destination in Europe and 13th globally Wizz Air has expanded its presence at Varna Airport with the arrival of a second aircraft further strengthening its operations in Bulgaria Burgas and Varna airports are set to welcome a wide range of new routes and airlines this summer reflecting an expected boost in tourism in Bulgaria Employers in Bulgaria are legally required to implement all necessary measures to prevent and minimize workplace accidents with 45.2% of those aged 16–74 having bought goods or services via the internet in the past year The fourth edition of the LUNAR Festival of Lights in Sofia will illuminate 10,000 square meters of art across some of the city's most iconic buildings and public spaces from May 8 to May 11 The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasts that May will bring temperatures ranging from 2°C to 33°C across Bulgaria a trend that has persisted for over 30 years A Romanian family paid 3,084.60 leva (1,500 euros) for medical treatment at the Burgas University Hospital following a serious road accident Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase Bulgaria’s coastal city of Varna is to host for the nineteenth consecutive year the Orthodox Book Week It will be officially opened by Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav Ioan He will deliver a speech dedicated to the 1100th death anniversary of Saint Clement of Ohrid The whole Orthodox week is also dedicated to that memorable anniversary The event will take place in Varna City Art Gallery Later Professor Valeriy Alekseev from Russia will present new editions of the International Public Fund for the Unity of Orthodox Nations The Week of the Christian Orthodox Book will end on September 11 with a solemn liturgy Seventeen Bulgarian bishops from a total of eighteen are eligible to become the next Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav and succeed the late Metropolitan Kiril at the post All Bishops older than 35 and under the age of 70 can run Those who do not wish to be considered must inform the Holy Synod in writing while Pavel is no longer Bishop as he is facing a church tribunal and possible stripping of all dignities With the sudden and surrounded by rumors and suspicions drowning death of Metropolitan Kiril on July 9 the post became vacant and under article 93 of the Code of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church a new Metropolitan must be appointed within 3 months the vote is cast by diocesan electors designated by parish councils The final decision is made by the Holy Synod which is to elect one of the two candidates who have collected the most votes Bulgaria is stepping out of its comfort zone Bulgaria’s former ambassador to the Vatican (2019–2023) in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio As Pope Francis' passing on April 21 has prompted speculation over who will succeed him media outlets are highlighting potential candidates for the papal conclave remembered as "Bloody Maundy Thursday," marks one of the darkest days in Bulgaria’s modern history a day that recalls the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot "The Digital Green Certificate is not a document that opens all doors," commented for BNR lawyer Maria Petrova It contains information on whether a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19 has had Covid-19 and the body has produced antibodies against the novel coronavirus the purpose of the certificate is not to divide people into vaccinated and non-vaccinated but to identify a uniform standard to prevent abuse and document fraud "The European Commission already said that The Digital Green Certificate is of a recommendatory nature and that each country must decide what weight should be given to it," said Maria Petrova Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry will not take any diplomatic action towards the government of Macedonia which recently built a monument of medieval Bulgarian Tsar Samuil presenting him as the head of an imagined medieval "Macedonian" state "We are not going to undertake anything," the Spokesperson of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Vesela Cherneva stated at a briefing in Sofia on Tuesday The imposing monument of famed Bulgarian medieval Tsar Samuil the greatest defender of the first Bulgarian Empire against Byzantium was erected in the Macedonian capital Skopje a week ago The 5-meter marble statue was placed at the central Skopje square nearby the recently ereted statue of Alexander the Great the government of Nikola Gruevski and the ruling party VMRO-DPMNE built several monuments in Skopje and other towns in Macedonia also imagined to have somehow been a forefather of the contemporary Macedonians with the Greek authorities declaring that Macedonia is trying to hijack parts of Greece's historical memory Greek President Kkarolos Papoulias has warned that the Macedonian authorities cannot create a national identity by building monuments the Bulgarian state leadership has kept quiet and the Foreign Ministry has now formally said it will continue this policy The monument of Tsar Samuil in Skopje is viewed as amusing by the majority of Bulgarians and current head of the Bulgarian National History Museum declaring that it is great to see neighboring states erect monuments of Bulgarian tsars Tsar Samuil (Samuel) ruled the First Bulgarian Empire as the Tsar of the Bulgarians in 997 AD-1014 AD from his capital in Ohrid The center of Bulgarian power shifted from the old capital of Veliki Preslav to Skopje and Ohrid following the Byzantine takeover of Veliki Preslav and parts of Eastern Bulgaria in 971 Samuil fought a heavy battle to ward off an incipient Byzantine appetite to run over the First Bulgarian Empire (681 AD-1018 AD) As a general for preceding Bulgarian Tsar Roman (Tsar of the Bulgarians in 977 AD-997 AD he dealt a devastating blow to the Byzantine army at Gates of Trajan Pass in 986 AD In addition to being an outstanding defender of the Bulgarian state Samuil is known for the fact that he was unwilling to proclaim himself Tsar of the First Bulgarian Empire as long as there was a living descendant of the original dynasty 970-977) and his brother Roman were in captivity in Constantinople Samuil took over as Tsar only after the death of both brothers who had no male descendants The tides of the war between the First Bulgarian Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) turned in 1014 though when Byzantine Emperor Basil II extracted revenge by defeating the Bulgarian army at the Battle of Kleidon a sight which caused the death of Tsar Samuil Bulgaria fell under Byzantine rule soon after and Basil II gained the nickname Boulgarokhtonos the last two Bulgarian Tsars of the First Bulgarian Empire Samuil's son Gavril Radomir (1014-1015) and nephew Ivan Vladislav (1015-1018) continued the fight against Byzantium The official doctrine of modern-day Macedonia (Macedonia) inspired by the propaganda of Tito's communist Yugoslavia holds Samuil to have been the Tsar of a great medieval "Macedonian" empire an allegation based solely on the geographic scope of the First Bulgarian State in the Balkans (681 AD-1018 AD) which included lands from the Black Sea to the Adriatic where southwestern cities such as Ohrid were of crucial importance One of the heaviest blow to the doctrine of so called "macedonianism" proclaiming a separate historical identity of the modern-day Macedonian nation is the Bitola Inscription of Tsar Ivan Vladislav in which he says that the Bitola fortress near Ohrid was rebuilt in 1015-1016 "by Ivan who was "Bulgarian by birth" "as a haven and for the salvation of the lives of the Bulgarians." President Rumen Radev has urged North Macedonia to stop blaming Bulgaria for delays in its path toward EU membership The Minister of Transport of North Macedonia expressed frustration over the lack of response from Bulgaria regarding the construction of a railway line During the "EU Meets the Balkans" forum in Sofia North Macedonia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Zoran Dimitrovski addressed ongoing concerns surrounding his country's EU accession process Bulgaria has been awaiting a response from the Republic of North Macedonia regarding the draft agreement for the construction of a railway tunnel After reports emerged this week from Bulgarian media stating that Bulgaria is "fully ready to sign an agreement with North Macedonia and start construction on a cross-border railway tunnel along Corridor 8" Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov announced that Bulgaria is fully ready to sign an agreement with North Macedonia Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev held a phone conversation with U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 29 Bulgaria’s Ambassador to the United States has formally submitted a request to terminate his mandate ahead of schedule and is expected to return to Bulgaria by the end of the month The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Bulgaria’s Ministry of the Interior on April 22 The South African Embassy in Sofia has officially discontinued its consular services as of March 17 The Fourth Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025) will be held under the auspices of H.E Bulgaria’s first F-16 landed on Tuesday afternoon at the Third Fighter Air Base at Graf Ignatievo The gold treasure of the ancient Bulgarian capital of Preslav will be exposed at the Louvre in June The exposition is part of the cultural program of the Bulgarian EU Presidency The display named The Epoch of Bulgarian Tsars will accentuate on the Golden Age of Simeon the Great The event’s curator Jannice Durand who had visited the museum of Veliki Preslav declared that the museum’s collection was really rich and testified on a major stage of Europe’s art development The treasure was discovered accidentally in 1978 It has been one of the largest medieval treasures discovered so far with 120 gold and gilded jewelries Some of the exhibits have been dated back to the 3 – 7th c and there are some belonging to the 10th c The Christian symbols on a part of the exhibits are an interesting detail such exhibitions are essential for Bulgaria’s image Last year’s exposition The Saga of the Thracian Kings was selected among Top 5 best events in the Louvre for last year Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej and interim leader of Bulgarian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Cyril of Varna and Veliki Preslav are also in Georgia President Saakashvili received leaders of Orthodox Churches on January 10 He said that Patriarch Ilia II’s jubilee was a "celebration" for whole Georgia.  Parliamentary Chairman Davit Usupashvili was also present whom President Saakashvili thanked for "his contribution to organize all these events with all of us." Patriarch Bartholomew I is expected to meet PM Bidzina Ivanishvili on January 11 Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople is viewed as spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians but he has no jurisdiction over other autocephalous (independent) Orthodox Churches the Bulgarian people and the Orthodox Church pay honor to St John of Rila / 876-946 / Until the age of 25 he was an ordinary shepherd before accepting monasticism and preaching in various places mainly during the time of rule of the Bulgarian Tsar Peter I At the end of his life he lived as a hermit in Rila Mountain where he established the Rila Monastery His life was during a difficult time of growing social inequality because of the development of the feudal system The saint was extremely popular during his lifetime Even King Peter himself traveled the distance from the capital Veliki Preslav to the Rila Mountains to see him John bowed to the king without accepting his gifts of gold striving for a humble and dignified experience of earthly life on the eve of eternity healed them from serious illnesses and performed miracles One of them showed his strength posthumously When his relics temporarily ended up in Esztergom (Hungary) the local archbishop did not acknowledge the saint and lost his speech until he went to bow to St whom the Bulgarian people worship as patron are kept in the Rila Monastery part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project implemented with the support of the European Commission will take place on Friday at the BTA National Press Club in Troyan The forum will discuss the new developments in the EU's Cohesion Policy in 2021-2027 and the results achieved in the 2014-2020 period Special emphasis will be laid on skills as a driver for the development of the regions and what Bulgaria and the Balkan countries have contributed to the development of Europe Participants in the conference include Lovech Regional Governor Dora Stoyanova; Troyan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nikolay Raykovski; Apriltsi Municipality Mayor Tihomir Kukenski; Mariana Bandrova Information Services and Support expert at the Lovech Regional Information Centre; Ivelina Radevska-Stoimenova head of the Labour Office Directorate of Troyan and Apriltsi; Vera Dobreva-Sabotinova Planning and Projects Directorate of Troyan Municipality; Vyara Docheva head of the Humanitarian Activities Department at Troyan Municipality; Ivanka Tsekova Ohridski Secondary School of Troyan; and Nina Donkovska Venko Kolev National School of Applied Arts of Ttroyan BTA Director General Kiril Valchev and Troyan Mayor Donka Mihaylova will join the discussion via video conference BTA aims to provide information to the general public and promote an open dialogue on cohesion policy local performance and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024 The schedule of conferences until the end of September 2025 includes events in the following cities: Blagoevgrad Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects Residents of Bulgaria’s Targovishte marked today the 139th anniversary of liberation from Ottoman rule with a reenactment of the memorable events There were more than 100 participants from the cities of Veliki Preslav Dozens of residents of the town of Kyustendil in Southwestern Bulgaria also marked the 139 anniversary since the town was liberated Text version Standard version   edoc@tourism.government.bg Deputy Minister of Tourism Irena Georgieva attended the celebration of the 1335th anniversary of the Bulgarian state’s establishment and the 35th anniversary of Pliska’s town status She read a welcoming address on behalf of Minister Angelkova "Medieval Pliska was among Europe’s biggest and richest cities of its time nowadays this heritage draws thousands of tourists The registered visitors to the Pliska National Historical-Archaeological Reserve alone exceeded 55 000 in 2015 and their number is rising” The most preferred places of interest are the Large Basilica "Pliska is part of one of the 8 cultural-historical destinations developed by the Ministry - „The Capitals and Cities of Bulgarian Kings and Patriarchs“ In order to be of maximum benefit to tourists we also elaborated interactive maps of these sites with photos and a lot of extra information " They are published on the Ministry of Tourism’s website and attract more and more visitors Kaspichan municipality is also included in another Ministry initiative – the online Registry of Tourist Attractions It features with nearly 110 places of interest "The Ministry of Tourism welcomes your efforts to restore and preserve this priceless cultural wealth and will continue supporting them in order to establish the municipality as an attractive and competitive tourism destination " The event was attended by the Pliska mayor Tonka Nacheva At the beginning the Varna and Veliki Preslav bishop held a thanksgiving service featuring the Veselyache ensemble from Shumen with the special participation of Valya Balkanska and Petar Yanev        Contacts:   Sofia 1000, 1 Saborna St.   phone.: +359 2 904 6809,   edoc@tourism.government.bg 2016 © Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria A 51-year-old man from the village of Razvigorovo in the municipality of Hitrino was buried by a collapsed wall A 67-year-old shepherd from Veliki Preslav was electrocuted after stepping on a fallen wire A 66-year-old woman was admitted to the Shumen hospital with fractures after a tree fell on her in the Shumen City Garden "The knowledge that we are descendants of the Proto-Bulgarians is of great importance to us," says Gino Marotta The municipality is located in the district of Campania in South-western Italy and includes 5 settlements nestled at the foot of Monte Bulgheria (Mount Bulgaria) with an official celebration near the monument the twinning between Italy’s Celle di Bulgheria and the Bulgarian municipality of Veliki Preslav (a mediaeval Bulgarian town which used to be the second capital of Bulgaria) was marked but rather a tribute to their ancestors and historical memory we celebrate the anniversary of the twinning of these two towns we organize a series of initiatives with the participation of many Bulgarians who come here especially for this occasion," says Gino Marotta He himself has traveled to Bulgaria’s Veliki Preslav more than once He admits that he was struck by the similarities he found with the Bulgarians He claims that in Bulgaria he has seen a similar mountain of their Monte Bulgheria and the same panoramic views reminiscent of the small settlements scattered at its foot as people with whom we share common roots” says the mayor of the Italian municipality Among the joint initiatives of the twinned municipalities was the cycling march in 2017 connecting Celle di Bulgheria with Veliki Preslav "I have to tell you that we are facing a serious language barrier because it is a little difficult for us to learn the Bulgarian language" last year we applied with a project at the Ministry of Culture in Bulgaria as a result of which the Bulgarian language is now officially taught in our primary and secondary schools The project covers the education of 100 children A Bulgarian woman who lives here teaches them." At the height of the coronavirus pandemic Bulgarian language education for children in Celle di Bulgheria continues But Gino Marotta hopes the project will continue running next year as well with the financial support of the Bulgarian Culture Ministry In addition to the unveiling of the monument and the towns' twinning in recent years more and more Bulgarian tourists have started coming to Celle di Bulgheria the region has started to be more bustling with life new family hotels appeared as the available accommodation has increased by 150 new beds Bulgarians come here to get acquainted with the place and the people with whom they share common roots Restoration of the old part of the medieval town is forthcoming with the idea to turning it into a popular tourist destination for Bulgarians Among the local attractions is the also nearby Monte Bulgheria notable for its caves inhabited in the 4th century by Greek monks Now the Italian municipality is preparing to twin with the town of Bolgar (Bolghar) in Russia another settlement founded centuries ago by the Proto-Bulgarians (also known as Bulgars Driven by a desire to pay tribute to its distant roots the municipality of Celle di Bulgaria has established the Alcek International Award (Premio Internazionale Altzek) It is bestowed to prominent public figures and artists with merits in the field of culture And the prize itself is….a genuine Bulgarian oil-yielding rose (rosa damascena) brought from faraway Bulgaria - the land of roses you can adjust the settings for automatic translation on You Tube Photos: Municipality of Celle di Bulgheria Education is crucial for regional development as every company considering investment in Dobrich and the surrounding area is asking where they will find qualified workers said Dobrich Deputy Mayor Pavel Pavlov during a local conference as part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project The conference took place at the BTA National Press Club here on Tuesday Pavlov stressed that the municipal administration along with kindergartens and schools operating as secondary budget spenders are actively involved in numerous national programme projects “The municipality takes advantage of every opportunity to upgrade educational infrastructure because we understand that quality education depends on solid material conditions,” he said Current projects under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan will allow three kindergartens and two schools to improve their facilities the municipality is pursuing initiatives that promote equal access to education There are about 15 "totalitarian and destructive" religious sects that are currently active in Bulgaria Chair of the Center for Research of New Religious Movements (CRNRM) during an international seminar in Varna entitled “Educational Institutions as a Main Target of Sectarian Activity” The seminar has been organized by the CRNRM and the Varna and Veliki Preslav Bishopric of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Zhelev said many of the 120 religions registered in Bulgaria were fictitious and that if the state undertook a campaign to inspect them their number would drop to no more than twenty As examples of destructive religious sects Zhelev pointed to the Church of Moon and Scientology who targeted high-level state officials He also said the Jehovah’s Witnesses had become very active Among the most active “destructive” sects are the Jehovah’s Witnesses Director of the Center for Religious Research and of the Russian Association for Studying Religions and Sects several Russian sects including the Followers of Visarion and of Norbekov are also active in Bulgaria The Russian professor has warned that periods of crisis and stress increased people’s susceptibility to being influenced by destructive religious movements Bulgarian Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev emphasized that the country's education system is and will remain secular The Ministry of Education and Science in Bulgaria plans to introduce religious studies into the compulsory school curriculum A recent Trend survey has revealed that nearly 60% of Bulgarians are in favor of introducing religion as a subject in school the Bulgarian Orthodox Church pays homage to St commemorating his steadfast faith and miraculous deeds At least 7 people were killed and 8 seriously injured in a shooting at a "Jehovah's Witness" church in Hamburg There are almost 4.1 million Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria according to data of the National Statistical Institute This year Bulgaria marks 1,120 years after the reign of famous Bulgarian monarch Simeon I In Bulgarian patriotic tradition he is popular for his successful wars against Byzantium But it should be noted that he himself was Byzantine graduate familiar with the achievements of the Eastern Roman Empire and its culture Tsar Simeon I set ambitious targets for progress and development of Bulgaria who introduced Christianity as official religion to the country He was born probably in the year 864 in the then capital of Bulgaria - Pliska In 878he was sent to study in Constantinople where he graduated fromthe prestigious school of Magnaura.Simeon mastered to perfection the Greek language and the art of diplomacy He also took a monk’s oath.Hestudied arithmetics Byzantine chroniclers mention his erudition and call him "emiargos" / half-Greek/ - the highest praise for a foreigner at the invitation of Knyaz Boris of Bulgaria the students of Slavic educators St Cyril and Methodius were welcomed to Bulgaria Boris also called Simeon back to Bulgaria to help with spreading the word of god Boris retired to a monastery and the throne was taken by Simeon’s elder brother Vladimir Rasate Under his rule Bulgaria began to return to the pagan gods This made Boris leave the monastery.He blinded Vladimir and put him in a dungeon for the rest of his life Then Simeon abandoned his vow to become a monk and Boris made him the next Bulgarian Knyaz The beginning of his reign was accompanied by many difficulties The reason was purely economic - moving the venue for Bulgarian goods from Constantinople to Thessaloniki and the increase of their duties was the growing independence of the church in Bulgaria where services were held in Bulgarian language Magyars who received rich gifts from Constantinople began ruinous raids in northern Bulgaria was able to apply what he learned in Byzantium He in turn imitated negotiations with the Byzantines while assembling a powerful army meanwhile and defeating the Magyars Then in 896 he attacked the Byzantines and brought them to defeat nearBulgarophygon /today’s town of Babaeski The territory of Bulgaria significantly expanded after the victory New war with Byzantium began after the death of Emperor Leo VI took the thronebut refused to pay the annual tribute to Bulgaria In 913 Simeon’s troops stood before the walls of Constantinople did not have a navy and did not want to attack the fortified city on land only He began negotiations which proved successful Byzantine Patriarch Nicholas the Mysticpersonally gave Simeon the title Tsar That was how Simeon received recognition as a ruler of powerful country spreading from the Black Sea to the Adriatic and from the Mediterranean to the Carpathians The decisive battle took place near the Aheloi River north of present-day Bulgarian city of Burgas At the time about 120,000 soldiers fought in the great battle The Bulgarian army was largely conscript army comprised of free peasants Simeon won a great victory - the army of Commander Leo Phocas was surrounded and almost completely destroyed Despite a series of wars under the rule of Simeon Bulgaria also experienced an economic and cultural boom His reign is justly called the "Golden Age" Simeon the Great spent 28 years to build a new Bulgarian capital city – Great Preslav One can see similarities with the way Constantinople emerged as a new capital of the Roman Empire Contemporaries described with admiration Veliki Preslav A modern archaeological research also shows the size and beauty of the buildings Preslav also became an importantliterary center The King himself participated in translating the books of Christian wisdom Simeon was the center of an intellectual circle of writers and educators The works created by this circle are essential for the development of Slavic literature as a whole and are of world significance Simeon died in 927 after an unsuccessful war against Croats King Peter soon began negotiations and managed to achieve peace with both the Byzantine Empire and the other Bulgarian neighbors keeping most of the previous conquests of his father Assessment of the rule of Tsar Simeon cannotbe one-sided Undoubtedly his wars were exhausting for the Bulgarian people He paid for them with taxes and with many casualties The vast territory conquered by Simeon could not be retained in full he gave successors vast lands in which Bulgarian language culture and literature flourished for centuries Bulgaria also gained its independent church In the nineteenth century, in the last decades of Ottoman rule in the Bulgarian lands, the rule of Simeon became very popular. The great Tsar became an inspiring example for the leaders during the Bulgarian Revival period Subscribe to newsletters to receive our hottest offers: Here are the best places to visit in Bulgaria so you can really get to know this great nation One of the best places to visit in all of Europe Veliko Tarnovo stands out because of its remarkable beauty The River Yantra meanders through Veliko Tarnovo creating a picturesque setting for this historic northern Bulgarian city National Revival style houses cling to the hills making it so easy to fall in love with this inviting city A lesser known fact is that the city was Bulgaria’s capital between the 12th and 14th century during the heyday of the Second Bulgarian Empire visit Tsarevets – the fortress with ramparts Go back in time by walking along the cobblestone Gurko Street and shop for handcrafted souvenirs at the Samovodska Charshia For the most amazing 360-degree views of the city You should also try to visit the art gallery while you’re there Arbanasi is a very small village perched on a hill about 5 kilometers away from Veliko Tarnovo Besides the amazing views of Veliko Tarnovo and Tsarevets Arbanasi offers quaint cobblestone streets and old houses surrounded by high National Revival style stone fences Arbanasi is one of the most popular destinations in Bulgaria among the locals There are numerous hotels and restaurants in this small village One of the best attractions is the Nativity Church It has some beautiful frescoes that date back to the 16th and 17th century You can also visit one of the typical National Revival style houses – Konstantsalieva House – and learn about how people lived in those days One of the most ancient cities in Europe and among the best cities to visit in Bulgaria Plovdiv surprises visitors with its diversity Plovdiv is like an open-air museum of Bulgaria’s history Plovdiv used to be one of the major cities in the Roman Empire which still functions as an open-air theater You’ll get a totally different vibe from the Old Town which has cobblestone streets and colorful National Revival houses most of which have been turned into museums climb on one of the seven hills on which the city was built Ancient Plovdiv is on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites 2019 will be a great year to visit Plovdiv because it will be the European Capital of Culture Ruse is the city with the most aristocratic look in Bulgaria it was a major economic centre during the National Revival (18th – 19th century) and after the liberation of the country in 1878 Ruse was the gateway for all architectural and cultural influences from Central Europe the city boasts beautiful architecture in Baroque and neoclassical styles You can take a boat trip on the Danube or just walk along the river you can take a day trip to the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo where you’ll see a complex of churches and monasteries that have earned UNESCO recognition One of the country’s top summer destinations Varna is often referred to as the sea capital of Bulgaria In the summer it becomes a bustling city with a lot of activities and festivals to keep the city’s guests entertained There’s an international ballet competition One of the most beautiful places in the city is the Sea Garden – the locals love to go there for a walk When you have enough of the yellow-sand beaches you can visit the National Maritime Museum Pobiti Kamani is a natural phenomenon some 20 kilometers west of Varna – perfect for a day trip if you are staying in Varna and it’s made up of sand dunes and rock formations as well as being home to variety of flora and fauna There are many theories about the origin of these stone columns that reach up to 7 meters high These columns are hollow and they look as if they are stuck in the sand The best way to reach the Stone Desert is by car Nessebar is one of the most beautiful places on the Black Sea Coast The Old Town has a picturesque setting on a small peninsula jutting out in the sea Walking towards the Old Town you will pass by one of the last remaining windmills in Bulgaria Visit the old churches in Nessebar and walk along the Thracian fortifications Stroll the cobblestone streets lined with 19th-century wooden houses Nessebar is like an open-air museum revealing 3,000 years of history to its visitors The ancient city is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and tends to be pretty touristy in the summer Sozopol is another gem of a place on the Black Sea Coast Hosting one of the country’s largest art festivals every September the Old Town is a popular destination among the artsy tourists Colourful fishing boats and rocky shores complement the 19th-century wooden houses and golden-sand beaches Go off-the-beaten track in Bulgaria and visit Cape Kaliakra on the rough northern Black Sea Coast Listen to the waves battering the vertical cliffs or stroll along the remains of the medieval fortress and enjoy the stunning views The legend says that 40 maidens from the nearby village jumped from the edge of the cliff with their hair tied together They preferred to die rather than be captured by the Ottomans who were invading Bulgaria in the 14th century Balchik is a small town near the northern part of the Black Sea Coast and a palace are among the must-sees in Balchik The Palace of Balchik was built as a summer residence for the Romanian Queen Marie of Edinburgh has been one of the most important historical places in Bulgaria from the time of the National Revival (18th – 19th century) Koprivshtitsa is a lovely place that still keeps the spirit of revolutionary Bulgaria and of the April Uprising of 1876 try to read a bit more about Bulgaria’s history to understand its importance Once every four years Koprivshtitsa hosts the biggest authentic folklore festival in the country The most famous attraction in Kazanlak is the Thracian Tomb The beautiful frescoes in the tomb date back to the 4th century BC and are one of the masterpieces of the Thracian Culture (5th century BC – 1st century AD) The Thracian Tomb is one of the ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria The best time to visit the town is the first week of June when the famous Rose Festival is held do not miss the Rose Museum to learn everything about the rose oil production in Bulgaria Etara is an open-air ethnographic museum located near Gabrovo in northern Bulgaria There are various workshops where you can see how traditional crafts were practiced in the 18th – 19th century Etara is a lovely place to visit on a day trip from Veliko Tarnovo or Gabrovo Tryavna is among the cutest towns in Bulgaria It’s one of those places with well-preserved typical National Revival architecture but instead of being in one of those open-air-museum type of villages and you should visit the Daskalov House to admire the wood-carved ceiling pieces and hear the story about how the apprentice woodcarver outdid his master in a competition for the most beautiful ceiling decoration Pliska was the first capital of the First Bulgarian Empire from 681 – 893 AD Today there isn’t much left of this once glorious city but the ruins still give an impression of the amazing place it was The archeological site is a few kilometers outside of the modern town Veliki Preslav was the second capital of Bulgaria during the so-called Golden Age (893 – 972 AD) This is the period when the Bulgarian Kingdom was one of the most powerful countries in Europe The ruins of Preslav are only a vague reminder of how important this place was during the last century of the Early Middle Ages you should also stop by the local archeological museum A visit to Veliki Preslav is best when combined with a visit to Pliska The Belogradchik Rocks are one of the natural wonders in Bulgaria These reddish rock sculptures in weird forms and shapes are located in northwest Bulgaria and there are many legends about the various figures The Rocks offer a natural defense for the famous Belogradchik Fortress The Belogradchik Rocks are included on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites If you love mountains and breathtaking views Set up high in the Rhodope Mountains in southern Bulgaria Smolyan is one of the country’s top destinations for winter sports In the summer you’ll enjoy the pristine nature Take the chairlift to Snezhanka Peak and climb the TV tower You will be rewarded with an amazing 360-degree view of the Rhodope Mountains They say that on a clear day you can even see the Mediterranean Sea Zlatograd is a small town hidden in the southernmost parts of the Rhodope Mountains on the border with Greece The Old Town is absolutely charming with its white houses decorated with bay windows and round chimneys it wasn’t until 2001 that the Old Town was restored and brought to new life as an ethnographic complex The Trigrad Gorge is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in Bulgaria The 7-kilometer long canyon cut by the Trigrad River is located in southern Bulgaria in the Rhodope Mountains Squeezed between the river on one side and the vertical cliffs on the other the gorge’s only road connects Trigrad to the nearest town of Devin At the bottom of the gorge’s largest cliff is the area’s most popular tourist destination the river falls into the cave forming a spectacular 42-meter underground waterfall The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila is perhaps the most iconic destination in Bulgaria and one of the best day trips from Sofia There’s hardly anyone that won’t be able to recognize the black-and-white striped arches of the monastery The monastery is beautifully frescoed and is a fine example of National Revival craftsmanship The oldest building on the site is the Tower of Hrelja and it dates back to the beginning of the 14th century The Rila Monastery played an important role during Bulgaria’s National Revival It’s not a surprise that the monastery is included as an UNESCO World Heritage Site The monastery is hidden in the Rila Mountains in southwest Bulgaria and it was founded in the 10th century by the hermit Ivan of Rila Located in the northwest part of the Rila Mountains Seven Rila Lakes is a natural area of stunning beauty Hiking to the lakes uncovers epic scenic views of the rugged mountaintops The Seven Rila Lakes is a group of glacier lakes and the locals have given them names inspired mostly by their form: The Eye The lakes are located in Rila National Park The Stob Pyramids are another one of Bulgaria’s amazing natural phenomenon these are actually wedding guests turned into stone as the earth pyramids were formed through weathering and erosion The pyramids are about 10 – 12 meters high and have various shapes some are conical and others are shaped like mushrooms They are located near the village of Stob in the western part of the Rila Mountains Set against the dramatic landscape of sandstone mountains Melnik is officially the smallest town in Bulgaria and perhaps the most charming visit the Kordopulov House – it’s the largest surviving National Revival house It was built in 1754 for a wealthy Greek merchant and it has wine production and storage facilities so do not leave there without trying the special wine produced only in this region For the best views of the Sand Pyramids of Melnik but Bulgaria is a real hidden gem in Europe authentic experiences and stunning nature with lovely cities and quaint little towns and villages It’s an up-and-coming destination and the above list of the top places to visit in Bulgaria is just a sneak peak into what this small Balkan country has to offer Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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