Radio Bulgaria

Solemn religious services were held throughout the country and the monuments to the nation’s heroes were visited across Bulgaria on the occasion of the celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. In Sofia the municipality and the Mati Bolgaria Bulgarian association organized a traditional solemn procession to the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the tomb of Prince Alexander the First. In the evening an open-air concert was staged in the city’s central park, Borissova garden, with participation of the world famous Mystery of Bulgarian Voices female folklore choir. In the costal city of Varna the celebrations took place in the central square where 125 years ago Prince Alexander Battenberg sent the telegramme granting his approval of the Unification. Celebrations were held also in Veliko Turnovo, Shumen, Pleven, Vidin and other towns across Bulgaria. Traditionally, Plovdiv is the centre of the celebrations of Unification Day. They opened at Assumption of Mary cathedral church and continued in Jumayata square with a revival of the events of September 6, 1885. The bill of cultural events included also concerts and exhibitions. The celebrations came to a climax in a fireworks show in Suedinenie (“Unification”) square in the presence of President Georgi Parvanov, National Assembly Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, and municipal mayors.