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Bulgarian State Delegation brings Bulgarian symbols of peace and spiritual unity to the Vatican 

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Photo: Personal archive

Every year, on the eve of the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian alphabet, enlightenment, culture and Slavic literature - May 24 - a Bulgarian delegation led by the President of Parliament or the Head of State is received by the Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church for an audience at the Vatican. This year, President Rumen Radev will personally lead the state delegation on May 22 and 23.

On the first day of his visit, the President will attend the presentation of the exhibition "Mount Athos in Drawings and Photographs" at the Pontifical Lateran University in the Italian capital. The President will also visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Adrian II blessed the Bulgarian alphabet in the 9th century. 

The Basilica of San Clemente
Each year the Bulgarian delegation presents the Pope with a gift symbolising the Bulgarian people's respect for the faith and symbols that bring the Orthodox and Catholic worlds together. Each time, a special tribute is paid to the work of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, who created the Bulgarian alphabet, now the third alphabet of the EU and recognised as a common European cultural heritage. 

The Bulgarian letters - from the very first to the very last - are depicted in the work of artist Nikolay Deliyanev, originally from the town of Sandanski, but who has lived in Rome for almost 30 years. His sculptural work, in the form of an open book, will be presented to Pope Francis during the visit of the Bulgarian state delegation. 

Nikolay Deliyanev
"With these letters (painted on a wooden base) I wanted to convey a message, because until now there has not been such a view of the Bulgarian alphabet as "Alpha and Omega" - that is, our alphabet in its complete form, from beginning to end. If we think about it, there is always a beginning and an end, but art is boundless and creates the feeling that man's abilities are boundless" - says artist Nikolay Deliyanev in an interview with Radio Bulgaria:

"The idea came from Fr. Prof. Ivan Ivanov, who is responsible for the Bulgarian Church in Rome. As the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius is approaching, we decided to send a message of peace and cooperation between religions by creating a composition, which depicts a holy book containing the Bulgarian alphabet - the Cyrillic alphabet. This alphabet has been used to write our centuries-old history. Our centuries-old history has been written in this alphabet. Both our letters and our faith have preserved us as a people and helped to preserve our traditions."


The technique Nikolai Delyanev uses to paint is a kind of optical illusion by mixing colours and shapes. The viewer feels as if he is 'sinking' into another dimension of the painting. The open book with the letters of the alphabet is created using the same technique. 


"I have dedicated my work to our alphabet because it is unique in the world, and very few nations are fortunate enough to have created their own alphabet in which to write their books. So my work expresses my admiration for it. I want to tell about it in the best possible way. It is thanks to art that the world remains in balance. Thanks to art, beauty is always alive and beautiful messages are preserved. When there is art around us, there is also hope that the world will be saved from destruction". 

It has recently been announced that Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, who will be present at the tomb of St Cyril on 22-23 May, will give a special blessing to the work of Nikolai Delyanev.  This will take place in the Basilica of San Clemente, where the tomb of St Cyril the Philosopher is located. 

Западно- и Средноевропейският митрополит Антоний.
"This made me very happy because I understood it as a symbolic act bringing our alphabet back to its creator. It moved me very much and I am grateful that there will be a blessing by Metropolitan Anthony before the audience with Pope Francis," said artist Nikolai Deliyanev.


Photos: Facebook /Nikolay Deliyanev, BGNES, Bulgarian Orthodox Church of Rome
Translated and posted by Elizabeth Radkova

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Radio Bulgaria History and religion    24 may audience bulgarian delegation cyril and methodius pope vatican

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