Veliko Tarnovo was the centre of celebrations of the 116 years since the declaration of Independence of Bulgaria (photos, video)

Thousands gathered in Veliko Tarnovo to mark 116 years since the declaration of Independence of Bulgaria.

Bulgaria celebrates Independence Day

The celebrations began at the Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs in Veliko Tarnovo, where 116 years ago Tsar Ferdinand I read the manifesto and announced the breaking of political and financial dependencies with the Ottoman Empire.

The Independence Day is marked with solemn ceremonies throughout the country, but the main ceremony is traditionally held on the night of 22nd of September in Veliko Tarnovo, which Tsar Ferdinand I and the then Prime Minister Alexander Malinov chose as the site for the proclamation of independence.

As part of the tradition. a procession took place to 'Tsarevets' Fortress, where the national flag was hoisted and wreaths and flowers were laid.

After that, people headed to the city centre, where the festive programme continued. The culmination of the celebrations took place in the evening at "Tsar Asen Parvi" square, near the Tsarevets fortress. During the ceremonies, a list of names is read out in remembrance of those who gave their lives in the fight for independence, followed by firework display.

The guard of honour was received by the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament, Raya Nazaryan. In her speech she noted:

"It is a very special day for Bulgarian history. United, on this day Bulgaria puts the last element in its crown to be an independent, equal and sovereign state in the family of the European world and to open the paths for its development. That is why it is very important today to remind ourselves about the price and the meaning of Bulgarian independence and how important it is to be united, purposeful, to be together and to believe and be proud that we are a worthy and ancient nation," Parliament Speaker Raya Nazaryan said.

The President, the caretaker government and politicians congratulated the nation on Independence Day.

"Today, our nation commemorates the work of a generation for whom statehood and its independence were the highest values," Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev wrote in a Facebook post on the occasion of Independence Day and congratulated all Bulgarians.

"Driven by the conviction that only an independent Bulgaria can be truly free, 116 years ago in the old capital of Veliko Tarnovo, our ancestors rejected the vassalage of our country to the Ottoman Empire and strengthened the Bulgarians' faith in our own power. This historical act bequeathed us an invaluable lesson still relevant today - the defence of Bulgarian national interests, and not the resignation and blind following of someone else's will, is the way for the dignified development of Bulgaria," President Radev further wrote.

"This day marks a huge state achievement, a remarkable Bulgarian diplomatic success and a vivid historical example of the people's aspiration for democracy, prosperity and international respect. Let's protect our independence! Happy holiday, Bulgarians!", the Council of Ministers wrote.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev also congratulated Bulgarians on their holiday, and his Facebook post was accompanied by a photo of the Manifesto to the Bulgarian people for the declaration of independence by Prince Ferdinand I.

“History remembers heroes, not traitors,” 'Vazrazhdane' leader Kostadin Kostadinov said in a video post on Facebook on the occasion of the 116th anniversary of Bulgaria declaring independence from the Ottoman empire.

The video was shot in front of the monument in the Oborishte area near Panagyurishte, Southern Bulgaria.

"The spot where the first Grand National Assembly was held, where the revolutionaries of the Fourth Revolutionary District decided to fo forward with the April uprising in 1876. The monument here is unique because it is a monument to heroes, a monument to traitors and a monument to national honour and dignity," Kostadin Kostadinov said.

He recalls that there is a missing name on the monument, because it has been erased:

"Thanks to the one whose name was erased from the monument, nearly 10,000 people died. These are the victims of the April Uprising. I know the name of the traitor, but I will not say it because it must be erased from history. Such will be the fate of the current national traitors."

“On the day Bulgaria celebrates Independence, the meaning of the words freedom and independence becomes more significant,” Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) chair of parlimanetary group, Delyan Peevski, said in a position distributed by the MRF press centre.

"The declaration of Bulgaria as an independent and sovereign state is the fundamental step for its development as a modern, European state. Even today, 116 years later, the independence and freedom of our state must once again be an ideal and a cause," he says.

"We must continue Bulgaria's development by following our Euro-Atlantic path and defend our national interest with great will and determination. Only united and overcoming party egoism can we give the people the country they want to live in and where their children can grow up - a stable and prosperous one" Peevski added.

“Happy September 22 - Bulgaria's Independence Day! This is an act that evokes our national pride because it was accomplished entirely by the independent efforts of Bulgaria Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Chair Dzhevdet Chakarov said n a Facebook post.

"This is also a day on which we pay well-deserved tribute to all those statesmen who won our national and political freedom," Chakarov pointed out.

"Their deeds should be an example for us even today and inspire us in defending the national interests of Bulgaria and for the service of the Motherland," he wrote.

"Today we celebrate 116 years of a free and proud Bulgaria. Let us remember the courage of our ancestors and let us move forward with the same spirit and determination to defend Bulgaria's independence," Kiril Petkov, the co-chairman of "We Continue the Change", wrote in a Facebook post.

"Wherever you are at this moment, take a minute to feel your connection to your homeland. Happy holiday free Bulgarians!", says Kiril Petkov.

“There Is Such a People” leader Slavi Trifonov wrote on Facebook: “Today, we are not just celebrating, commemorating or honouring yet another holiday. This date embodies the strength and determination with which we have defended and protected our freedom and independence for 116 years. It is not just about being part of the developed European civilization, but being proud of the fact that we, as a nation, have always been at the heart of Europe. Let us remember and continue to cherish because our independence today is a treasure. Happy Independence Day," Trifonov wrote.

Images by Vassilena Vassileba, BNT, BTA, BGNES