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

Bulgaria celebrates freedom on 3 March

It is the 147th anniversary of the country's liberation from Ottoman rule
Photo: архив

On 3 March, Bulgaria celebrates the 147th anniversary of its liberation from five centuries of Ottoman rule. The day was declared a national holiday in 1990 by a decision of the National Assembly.

The Treaty of San Stefano, signed on 19 February 1878 (Old Style) between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, ended the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878). The document provided for the creation of an autonomous tributary Principality of Bulgaria, which would pay taxes to the Sultan.

The signing of the peace treaty of San Stefano, engraving.
However, Great Britain and Austria-Hungary opposed the preliminary peace treaty, and in July of the same year the Treaty of Berlin was signed, dividing Bulgaria into five parts.
Bulgaria's Liberation was first commemorated in Veliko Tarnovo in 1879, when Exarch Antim I, then President of the Constituent National Assembly, held a memorial service in the church of Sveta Bogoroditsa in the presence of MPs and citizens. Since 1888, it has been celebrated as the day of Bulgaria's liberation from Ottoman rule.

On March 3, citizens lay wreaths and flowers at monuments in honour of the soldiers who died for Bulgaria's liberation, there is a memorial service and a prayer of gratitude, a solemn military roll call and fireworks.

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    3 march bulgaria liberation

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
Overcast, rain
Min: 8 | Max: 17
Rain
Min: 14 | Max: 20
Overcast, rain
Min: 16 | Max: 20
Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 14
Overcast, rain
Min: 8 | Max: 15
Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 17
Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 16
Overcast, rain
Min: 13 | Max: 18
Overcast, rain
Min: 10 | Max: 20
Overcast, rain
Min: 8 | Max: 16
Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 17
Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 16
Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 17
Overcast, rain
Min: 7 | Max: 15
Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 16
Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 17
Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 16
Cloudy
Min: 12 | Max: 17
Cloudy
Min: 13 | Max: 18
Cloudy
Min: 13 | Max: 16
Overcast, rain
Min: 6 | Max: 15
Overcast, rain
Min: 7 | Max: 15
Cloudy
Min: 13 | Max: 18
Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 16
Overcast, rain
Min: 10 | Max: 20
Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 18
Overcast, rain
Min: 13 | Max: 20
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

Saint Michael the Archangel who leads the army of angels against the forces of darkness

8 November is celebrated as the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. According to church legend, Archangel Michael commands the whole army of angels in..

published on 11/8/25 9:00 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

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