ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Related
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Society of Banat Bulgarians celebrates 55 years since its establishment

Banat Bulgarians in folk costumes. The second person from right to left is Mikhail Shipkov.
Photo: Gyuro Lavrov's private archive

On this date, 55 years ago, the first Society of Banat Bulgarians in Bulgaria was established. It was born due to the enthusiasm and ambition of the heir of the Bulgarians from Vinga, Mikhail Shipkov, born in 1919 in the Bulgarian village of Asenovo near the town of Pleven, Northern Bulgaria.

The society was established as a "patriotic organization" uniting the Banat Bulgarians and their descendants in Sofia. Its goal was to maintain close ties with the compatriot groups in Bulgaria in order to preserve the traditional way of life and culture and the Banat Bulgarian self-identity. 

After the death of Mikhail Shipkov in 1996, the society's activities ceased. In 2007, its operation was resumed via the registration of a new society which was the successor of the old one. Its leader became Svetlana Karadzova, which gradually led to uniting the activity of the society and the Falmis concept born in 1998 of the first printed edition of Banat Bulgarians in Bulgarian "FALMIS-Uvec falim" (from the Catholic greeting "Laudater Jesus Christus!", Falmis is based on the abbreviation of this greeting).

In 2016, a dance group "Falmis" was created as part of the organization. It brings the descendants of the Banat Bulgarians in the capital close to the Banat Bulgarian folklore, but also gladly accepts friends and admirers from near and far as members.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria History and religion    Banat Banat Bulgarians Bulgarians Falmis Foundation folklore Mikhail Shipkov Vinga

More from category

110 years since the test flight of the first Bulgarian aeroplane

On 10 August 1915, the first Bulgarian-built aeroplane took to the skies for a test flight in Bozhurishte. It was designed by inventor Assen Yordanov, whose name still features in the textbooks used to train pilots and engineers today. From an early..

published on 8/10/25 8:50 AM

Exhibition in Sozopol showcases monuments from ancient cities around the Black Sea

A trilingual exhibition titled “Egyptian Cults around the Black Sea” opens today at 6 PM at the Archaeological Museum in Sozopol , according to BNR – Burgas. Part of an international research project, the exhibition is organized by the Institute of..

published on 8/7/25 5:55 PM
The building of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox church

Bulgarian Orthodox Church calls for vigilance against self-proclaimed spiritual leaders

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has issued an official statement on “pagan neo-Hindu propaganda with pseudo-Christian elements”. The bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church call for greater vigilance against “touring gurus, self-proclaimed “spiritual..

published on 8/7/25 10:14 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 14 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 15 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 36
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

110 years since the test flight of the first Bulgarian aeroplane

On 10 August 1915, the first Bulgarian-built aeroplane took to the skies for a test flight in Bozhurishte. It was designed by inventor Assen Yordanov,..

published on 8/10/25 8:50 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"