Bulgaria celebrated the Day of Slavonic Script and Culture under the leadership of Patriarch Daniel

on May 24, Sofia hosted large-scale celebrations dedicated to the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Enlightenment and Culture, and Slavonic Script. The celebrations, which included a solemn procession and a prayer service, were led by Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria with the participation of the country’s top leadership and hundreds of citizens.

According to Orthodox Times, the celebrations began with a Divine Liturgy in the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Weeks, which was celebrated by the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The Patriarch later joined the traditional procession through the center of the capital. The event was attended by Vice President Iliana Yotova, Speaker of the National Assembly Mihaela Dottsova, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev, ministers, deputies, and representatives of St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia.

The solemn column, accompanied by the Guards Brass Band, marched past the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Sofia University to the National Library named after Saints Cyril and Methodius. Teachers, students and pupils of the Sofia Theological Seminary also took part in the procession. The official ceremony in front of the library opened with a prayer service by Patriarch Daniel, accompanied by Bishop Gerasim of Melnik and the clergy of the capital.

In his address to the nation, Patriarch Daniel emphasized the importance of the spiritual heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius. He noted, “Today we celebrate a unique opportunity to create in our native language, to write and read using the alphabet created by the holy men, and to participate with dignity in dialog with other nations.” Vice President Iliana Yotova in her speech also emphasized the role of the Bulgarian language as a key factor of national unity and identity. The celebrations ended with performances by students and a concert in front of the St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral.