On the Day of Bulgarian Education, Culture and Slavonic Literature on May 24, the hymn “March ahead, o revived people" sounds in a variety of performances and arrangements. This is one of the most beautiful songs in the Bulgarian music literature.

The hymn in praise of St. Cyril and Methodius was created by two Bulgarian teachers. The lyrics were written by prominent Bulgarian writer and public figure Stoyan Mihaylovski. The date under the poem written by him is April 15, 1882. At the time he was a teacher of French in the city of Rousse. Nine years later Panayot Pipkov – a composer, bandmaster and music teacher at Lovech, was given the task to write a new song for the feast of the Holy Brothers. Thus the Bulgarian all-school hymn to St. Cyril and Methodius was born. The year was 1901.

In late 19^th-early 20^th century, almost all Bulgarian composers write choral and school songs about the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius (as it was called then), and the lyrics were written by famous poets. Unfortunately, not all authors have remained in history.

A preserved song is “Tozi praznik” (this festive day). According to a publication from 1906, the music was written by Atanas Badev. The text is of Joakim Gruev. "This festive day gives us a new boldness, a new life, it makes our Bulgarian people yearn for science”...

As is well known, a hymn to glorify the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius was composed also by the great Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The hymn is based on an old Slavonic tune. Tchaikovsky wrote it in 1885 when the Millennium anniversary of Methodius’ death was marked in Russia on a grand scale with numerous secular and sacred celebrations. On April 6, 1885 Tchaikovsky’s hymn was performed by the graduates of the ecclesiastical schools in Russia before the start of the all-night vigil.

In 1863, enlightened humanity noted another important date - 1000 years since the so-called Moravian mission of Cyril and Methodius. In addition to Prague and Vienna, celebrations on this occasion were also held in Rome and Brun (present-day Brno). In Rome, the solemn hymn was performed of Franz Liszt "Slavimo slavno, slaveni" ("We glorify the glorious, Slavs!"), composed specially for the occasion.

English version Rossitsa Petcova