site.btaOdesa and Region Mark May 24 with Rich Cultural Programme, Bulgaria's Consul General Says

A rich cultural programme is planned in Odesa and the surrounding region to mark May 24, Bulgaria’s Consul General Svetoslav Ivanov told the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) on Friday. May 24 is one of the greatest and most cherished Bulgarian holidays, celebrating the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture, and of Slavic Literature, the Bulgarian diplomat said.

"Several events will take place on this occasion in the Ukrainian Black Sea city and across Bessarabia. The first event will be held on May 23 in the town of Reni, a border town near Romania. Last year, with our support, a Bulgarian Sunday school was opened in the Bulgarian village of Nahirne, and another one will now be opened in Reni. Together with the director of the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre Media, we had already planned such a celebration in Reni last year," Ivanov said.

"It is extremely important to show the local population in the Reni municipality, which is ethnically mixed, that the Bulgarian minority is present and vibrant, and that it preserves its traditions and customs," he added.

According to Ivanov, two events will take place in Odesa itself on May 24.

"This holiday brings us together and unites us. At 11:00 a.m., we organize a flower-laying ceremony at the Cyril and Methodius monument in front of the Faculty of Philology of the Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University as a sign of gratitude to the holy brothers. Various organizations have been invited to attend," the Consul General announced.

The main event of the day will take place at 2:00 p.m. in the city garden on the central Derybasivska Street. With the support of the Odesa City Council and the city’s Department of Culture, a Festival of Bulgarian Culture will be held. The event is part of the municipal programme Multinational Odesa, which is being organized for the third consecutive year.

"This event was planned as early as last year, when Bessarabian Bulgarians Day was marked with a concert by Iliya Lukov in Odesa. This tradition is continuing for a third consecutive year. We invited Bulgarian folk ensembles from Kamchyk, Banivka, and Tatarbunary, as well as groups from Bulgarian Sunday schools, to participate. Hopefully, the weather will be agreeable and favourable so that we can organize a true parade of Bulgarian culture and allow the residents and visitors of the city to experience this celebration. The Bulgarian community is one of the largest in Odesa region," Ivanov said.

The celebrations dedicated to May 24 continue in the Bessarabian municipality of Bolhrad District, Ivanov added.

On May 31, a festival featuring all Bulgarian folk ensembles from the Bulgarian villages in the municipality will be held in the Bulgarian village of Rovno.

"We continue to pursue one of our key foreign policy priorities, being close to our diaspora and supporting them during this difficult time of war. It is important to show that Bulgaria stands close to the Bessarabian Bulgarians and has not forgotten them. For us, working with the largest historic Bulgarian diaspora abroad is both a duty and a calling," Ivanov said.