Bulgaria marked its National Day in Sofia on Sunday with a flag-raising ceremony and a tribute at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. Vice President Iliana Iotova, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev, Bulgarian Patriarch and Sofia Metropolitan Daniil, and Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov attended the event.
The Guards Representative Brass Band performed a salute of 20 artillery volleys during the national anthem. Minister Zapryanov reviewed the military formation and congratulated the troops.
Patriarch Daniil said March 3 should unite Bulgarians and called for humility, stressing that freedom was a gift won through sacrifice. He warned against dependence and addiction, saying such influences distorted the human soul. “Destructive forces exist in each of us, but we must fight them,” he said.
Vice President Iotova described March 3 as Bulgaria’s “resurrection” and said the country should assert its sovereignty within the European family. She played down Bulgaria’s absence from a London meeting on Ukraine, saying such discussions should take place at summits.
Defence Minister Zapryanov said March 3 marked Bulgaria’s rebirth and independence. “We have much to be proud of. This holiday is not in vain,” he said. He noted the armed forces were entering a modernization phase, with efforts to fill vacancies and acquire new weaponry. On global security, he cited the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and expressed hope for peace.
National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova, speaking at Shipka, honored the memory of those who fought in the Russo-Turkish War and called for the defense of Bulgaria’s national interests. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov emphasized Bulgaria’s heroic past and the need for unity to ensure prosperity.
Education Minister Krasimir Valchev, addressing a crowd in Stara Zagora, described March 3 as the embodiment of Bulgaria’s national ideal. He urged efforts to educate future generations in patriotism and knowledge.
Political leaders, including GERB’s Boyko Borissov, Continue the Change’s Kiril Petkov, and Vazrazhdane’s Kostadin Kostadinov, shared messages on social media, reflecting on the significance of March 3. Kostadinov posted an image of a historic Bulgarian flag, while Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Delyan Peevski underscored the importance of peace and freedom.
Slavi Trifonov of There Is Such a People reiterated Bulgaria’s historic ties with Russia and criticized past attempts to change the country’s National Day. Radostin Vasilev of Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) party paid tribute to national heroes and warned against forgetting Bulgaria’s past.
The day’s commemorations concluded with celebrations across the country, as Bulgarians honored their history and reflected on their nation’s future.
