site.btaBulgarian Consulate General in Munich Hosts Reception Celebrating May 24

The Consulate General of Bulgaria in Munich hosted a formal reception on Friday on the occasion of the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture and Slavonic Literature - May 24. The event, held at the Sudetendeutsches Haus in the Bavarian capital, was dedicated to the Bulgarian Sunday schools within the consular district of the Consulate General in Munich - the provinces of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg - as well as to their principals, teachers, students, parents and donors.

The official guests included Bulgaria's Consul General in Munich Stefan Ionkov, President's Secretary for Culture, Education and Relations with Bulgarians Abroad Milena Dimitrova, Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (EABA) Executive Director Raina Mandzhukova, and Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony.

Consul General Stefan Ionkov underlined that the Bulgarian school abroad is not merely a place of education - it is a place of belonging. "A place where children not only learn the Bulgarian language, but also feel their connection to Bulgaria," he added. “May 24 is a celebration that every Bulgarian carries within themselves - through the first letters they wrote, through the first poems they learned... But here, outside Bulgaria, this celebration has an even deeper meaning. Because here the Bulgarian language is not something taken for granted. It is preserved through effort, perseverance and love - in the family, in the school, in the classroom and in community celebrations,” Ionkov said.

EABA Executive Director Raina Mandzhukova stressed that the Bulgarian school abroad is not something to be taken for granted. “It is precisely the schools that instil in our children a love for the language, for the written word and for the alphabet,” she said. She also noted that state institutions have an important role in supporting Bulgarian communities and schools abroad. According to her, Ionkov has managed in a short time to unite the Bulgarian community in Southern Germany.

President's Secretary for Culture, Education and Relations with Bulgarians Abroad Milena Dimitrova stressed the importance of language as the foundation of Bulgarian identity, especially for Bulgarians abroad. She added that it is precisely the written word that connects Bulgarians around the world - regardless of whether they live in Germany, France, the United States or another country. Dimitrova also highlighted the role of community centres as a Bulgarian institution preserving spirituality and cultural memory.

Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony said that May 24 is not only a celebration of the alphabet, but also a celebration of the spirit. “A celebration of that sacred word through which a people finds its voice, its memory and its dignity. Our alphabet is more than a script - it is a blessing and a covenant. Through it, our ancestors preserved their faith, culture and national identity through centuries of trials. Through it, Bulgaria today also bears witness before the world that our people do not live by bread alone, but also by the written word, education and spirituality,” he added.

Following the official greetings, the cultural programme continued with choral and musical performances by singer Anna-Maria Zhivkov and students from Munich’s two Bulgarian schools - Paisii Hilendarski and Dora Gabe.

During the reception, donations from a charitable initiative were presented to support 16 Bulgarian Sunday schools in Southern Germany with books, educational materials and equipment. The schools received Bulgarian children’s libraries with books provided with the support of the Bulgarian Book Association and Bulgarian publishing houses, laptops provided with the support of Bulgarian company Lirex BG, educational boards provided by Prosveta Publishing House, and teaching aids provided by KLETT.