On the eve of Bulgaria Liberation’s 140th anniversary the Bulgarian Red Cross and the National Guards Unit of Bulgaria organized a commemoration ceremony in front of the Doctor’s Monument downtown Sofia. It is devoted to those medics who fell during the 1877 – 1878 Russo–Turkish War. The monument is made by Russian architect Antonyi Tomishko. The Doctor’s Monument, as the Bulgarians have called it, was built up via donations in the period 1883 – 1884. It is a truncated four-sided pyramid on an extensive pedestal crowned on the top with a polished granite sarcophagus with embossed crosses made by the Italian stone craftsman Farabosco. The names of the battles with the most numerous victims from the medical corps are engraved on the four sides of the sarcophagus: Pleven, Shipka, Plovdiv and Mechka. The names of doctors, paramedics, samaritans and sanitarians are engraved underneath. Among them there is one Bulgarian name – the one of the doctor of the Bulgarian Volunteers Opaltchentsi formation Dr. Konstantin Vezenkov.
The official ceremony is considered a humble act of gratitude and recognition of the feat and memory of the medics who died in the war. The commemoration event began with a service of priests from the Bulgarian and Russian Orthodox Churches.
The Guard’s Representative Brass Orchestra and the National Guards Unit paid military honors and stood in honorary guard in front of the monument of the heroes, whose humanitarian activities during the war set the grounds for the establishment of the Bulgarian Red Cross. Its current President Hristo Grigorov pointed out at the ceremony:
“Your excellencies, dear friends, we stand in front of a monument symbolizing the love and gratitude of the Bulgarian people for those who gave their life for the Liberation of Bulgaria. We have here names and medical ranks – Russians, Romanians, Ukrainians, Poles, Belarussians… The monument was built up in 1884. The Bulgarian Red Cross sanctified it in 1993, following the Orthodox canons. We have been here together every year since then, in order to express our gratitude. This monument has another potential as well. It has the task to carry a message to the young people who will take over the rule of our country and will continue to the future with the purpose of showing goodness and empathy and having respect for their history. Let’s bow our heads and honor the memory of those people who gave their life for Bulgaria. Glory to their names!”
The commemoration ceremony was attended by diplomats, politicians and citizens, who had come to express their recognition, laying a flower at the monument of the dead medics.
English version: Zhivko Stanchev
In the week of St. Andrew’s Day (also known as Bears’ Day or Mechkinden), WWF is drawing attention to six orphaned bear cubs who have been given a second chance at life. The initiative is part of the "Subscribe to Nature" campaign and..
For the 30th consecutive year, the Bulgarian Posts organize a contest for the most beautiful letter to Santa Claus. Letters must be sent by 18 December with a stamped envelope "For Santa", the sender's address indicated and postage paid. All..
The Varna Regional Library "Pencho Slaveykov" has acquired a humanoid robot. It was unveiled by the library's director, Radka Kalcheva, during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the library's American Corner, in the presence of Eric Brasel, the..
Dear friends, We at Radio Bulgaria send you our warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas! May your hearts overflow with joy, your homes be filled..
The 22nd edition of the "Bulgarian Christmas" charity performance will take place tonight at the Ivan Vazov National Theatre. The initiative is held..
+359 2 9336 661