Send to Kindle
Statue of Sveta Sofia; Photo: Stella Ivanova
Today marks the 147th anniversary of Sofia's liberation from Ottoman rule. To honor the occasion, the Sofia Municipality announced plans to lay wreaths at key monuments, including the "Bulgarian Volunteer," "Tsar Liberator," and the monument to General Gurko.
The day’s commemorative events began at 10:00 a.m. with flowers being placed at the "Bulgarian Volunteer" monument. Later, at noon, a historical reenactment will take place in "Severen" Park, near the entrance from the "Svoboda" residential area on "Narodni Buditeli" Street. Organized by the "Nadezhda" district, the National Union "Unity" Association, and the United Balkans Association, the reenactment highlighted the historical significance of the day.
A thanksgiving prayer service will be held at the Metropolitan Church "St. Nedelya," officiated by His Holiness the Metropolitan of Sofia and Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil, in memory of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for Sofia's liberation. The Regional History Museum - Sofia also contributed by sharing details of the city’s liberation on its official website.
On January 4, 1878, the first Russian troops entered Sofia under the command of General Joseph Gurko, as part of the Western detachment of the Russian army. They were warmly greeted by citizens at Koru-Cheshme Square, now known as St. Nedelya Square. A teacher, Mikhail Bubotinov, welcomed the troops with a formal address on behalf of the people of Sofia. Following their arrival, a thanksgiving prayer service was held in honor of the Russian soldiers at the Cathedral Church "St. Nedelya," attended by General Gurko and Major General Otto Rauch.
These events remain a poignant reminder of Sofia’s liberation and its significance in Bulgaria's history.
Source: Sofia Municipality
The Legal Affairs Committee in the Bulgarian National Assembly voted with 22 votes in favor of halting the procedure for electing the next Prosecutor General
Viktoriya Tomova, Bulgaria's top female tennis player, suffered a first-round defeat at the Australian Open
For the first time ever, a direct flight connection has been established between Sofia, Bulgaria, and the French ski resort of Grenoble
Bulgaria's top tennis player, Grigor Dimitrov, has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an injury
Rents in Sofia, Varna, and Burgas are seeing significant growth, but they remain among the most affordable in Europe
Hospitals in major Bulgarian cities like Sofia, Pleven, Plovdiv, and Blagoevgrad have been found to be draining funds from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)
Bulgarian polar explorers in Antarctica have chosen to dedicate the month of January to renowned Bulgarian writer, playwright, and screenwriter Yordan Radichkov
On January 7, nearly 330,000 Bulgarians celebrate St. John's Day or Ivanovden, marking the feast day of St. John the Baptist
Today, Bulgaria celebrates Epiphany, one of the most significant Christian holidays, marked with solemn church services across the country
On January 2, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates St. Sylvester, Pope of Rome, along with Venerable Seraphim of Sarov and Saint Theogen, Bishop of Paris
On January 1, Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate St. Basil’s Day, also known as Survaki
Today, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Stephen, the holy protomartyr and archdeacon who became the first Christian to sacrifice his life for the faith
Bulgaria's Perperikon: A European Counterpart to Peru's Machu Picchu
Bulgarians Among EU's Least Frequent Vacationers, Struggling with Affordability
