Celebrations of April Uprising 150th Anniversary Held in Panagyurishte

UPDATED Celebrations of April Uprising 150th Anniversary Held in Panagyurishte

Petya Petrova, BTA correspondent Presiana Valkanova

Historical reenactment “Courage and Sacrifice – Panagyurishte 1876" in Panagyurishte, Central Bulgaria, May 1, 2026 (BTA Photo/Boyan Botev)

Panagyurishte, Central Bulgaria,

01.05.2026 11:09 | UPDATED 01.05.2026 21:56

(BTA)

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THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1876 APRIL UPRISING

The celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising in Panagyurishte began on Friday with a religious procession, a ceremony for raising the Bulgarian flag, and a memorial service at the Holy Presentation of the Virgin Mary church. The procession started from the town’s History Museum and was led by one of the sacred relics of the uprising, the Poibrene Cross.

“This is the cross that accompanied the Flying Detachment. We are excited that it will mark the beginning of our festive day. Afterwards, a memorial service is planned at the church Holy Presentation of the Virgin Mary, and after that we continue with a living tableau. With it, we will show the march of statehood that was organized 150 years ago right on these streets,” Panagyurishte Mayor Zhelyazko Gagov told BTA.

“The atmosphere in Panagyurishte is very different. I am extremely happy that many children and young people took part in all the activities and events we are organizing,” he added.

The message that Gagov wants to convey through the celebrations is: “Freedom does not remain silent, because it must revive our memory, and memory is what we are,” he said.

Later in the day, the celebrations continued with the historical reenactment “Courage and Sacrifice – Panagyurishte 1876." It took place at the Apriltsi Memorial Complex. Historically accurate scenes were reenacted depicting the declaration of the uprising in the capital of the Fourth Revolutionary District, the rebels’ heroic ten-day defence of Panagyurishte, and the bloody, dramatic events that accompanied the suppression of the uprising.

Shortly afterwards, the audio-visual installation “Panagyurishte 1876 – a Sanctuary of the National Spirit!” was opened at the town’s History Museum. The ribbon was cut by President Iliana Iotova, Panagyurishte Mayor Zhelyazko Gagov, Panagyurishte History Museum Director Atanas Shopov, donor Dimitar Tsotsorkov, and Municipal Council Chairman Ivan Lalov. In her speech, Iotova said that the legacy left to Bulgarians by the participants in the April Uprising is to love the homeland and to know that, no matter what happens, the people will endure as long as they remain united. She added that there can be no small or large nations; there are only united and divided ones.

The celebrations culminated in a ceremonial tattoo at 20 April Square on Friday evening. The event was attended by President Iotova, National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotsova, Panagyurishte Mayor Gagov, Panagyurishte Municipal Council Chairman Lalov, Metropolitan of Plovdiv Nikolay, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, representatives of local authorities, and members of Parliament.

In her speech, President Iotova said that Panagyurishte is not just the freedom-loving heart of the Bulgarian revolution but also the capital of rebellious Bulgaria. In her words, only those who have never come into contact with the people of Panagyurishte do not know with what great reverence, with how highly raised heads they preserve the memory of the April Uprising - the days of rapture, of freedom, of conscious self-sacrifice. "This is the Bulgarian April Uprising - a dream of freedom, of a homeland, of a state, of equality, of independence. It was precisely in these streets and squares of Panagyurishte in 1876 that the voice of the Bulgarian revival rang out loud and clear. Of the revived tradition of the Bulgarian state," she added.

Panagyurishte Mayor Gagov said that the Uprising was a lesson in how to die for freedom. "Today, the world is once again trying to speak the language of fear, through wars. We are forced to choose the side of the victor or the side of the vanquished - a choice that brings us no peace," he noted. "Here in Bulgaria, traditions are crumbling like a withered tree. Our children are leaving with suitcases heavier than their roots. I am convinced that together we will succeed in creating a new, thriving home for our entire community, so that we can provide the necessary care for our dreams and our children," added Gagov.

Metropolitan of Plovdiv Nikolay said that it was not someone else, but "the Orthodox faith that defeated slavery."

/PP/