The Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slavonic Alphabet, also known as the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, which is observed in Bulgaria on May 24, was celebrated in Malta.

The celebration of the holiday took place over two days on May 13 and 14 and was organised under the auspices of the President of Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who hosted the events in the state presidential residence.

This constituted not only the first time the holiday is celebrated in Malta at such high level, but also the first time when another head of state celebrates the holiday in official residence.

All celebrations were held in the presidential palace where all Bulgarian official guests, who had arrived for the celebration, were accommodated.

In the first day on May 13, Andrey Boyadzhiev, professor at the Faculty of Slavic Studies of Sofia University delivered a lecture entitled “Saints Cyril and Methodius and the unity of Europe”.

Later in the evening, a concert took place in the musical hall of the palace, featuring world famous tenor Boyko Tzvetanov and Bulgarian-born soprano Andriana Yordanova who has been living in Malta since 2002.

The accompaniment was provided by John Galea, head of the Music Studies department at the University of Malta. A selection of Bulgarian, Maltese and Italian musical works were played.

After the concert, a collective exhibition of Bulgarian painters living in Malta on the topic of “Malta and the sea” was unveiled.

These events attracted considerable interest and were visited by high-level Bulgarian and Maltese officials.

All events were attended by Edgar Preca, husband of Maltese president, the honorary President of Malta Ugo Bonnici, members of the diplomatic corps, including the Bulgarian ambassador to Italy and Malta His Excellency Marin Raykov.

On the second day on May 14, a teaching session of the Bulgarian school in Malta was held in the “Secret garden” of the palace. Many Bulgarian parents brought their children, who in turn invited their Maltese friends.

The school is established under the initiative of the Bulgarian community in Malta and is funded by the Bulgarian government. It has been founded with the assistance of the Maltese ambassador to Bulgaria and Romania His Excellency Lino Bianco.

The school bears the name of Saints Cyril and Methodius and started functioning in October 2015.

Different works of art created by the children were presented to the Maltese president, who took photos with the children, the school staff and parents. The event ended with a short speech delivered by His Excellency Raykov.

During the celebrations, the Maltese president held separate informal talks with His Excellency Raykov and his wife as well as with the honorary consul of Malta to Bulgaria, Dr. Borislav Boyanov and his family.

Marie Louise Coleiro Preca expressed her wish to make the celebration of the holiday an annual event.

The president also received Professor Boyadzhiev and his wife as well as maestro Tsvetanov and his wife.

Dr. Boyanov and his family presented the president with a very precious icon of Virgin Mary. This is the first Bulgarian icon in Malta's presidential palace, which will be publicly exhibited during the celebrations next year.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!