Metropolitan of Plovdiv: It Was Orthodox Faith that Defeated Slavery

Dimitrina Solakova, BTA correspondent Presiana Valkanova

Metropolitan of Plovdiv Nikolay during the observances in Panagyurishte, Central Bulgaria, May 1, 2026 (BTA Photo/Boyan Botev)

Panagyurishte, Central Bulgaria,

01.05.2026 22:10

(BTA)

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THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1876 APRIL UPRISING

In a speech during the observances of 150 years since the April Uprising here on Friday, Metropolitan of Plovdiv Nikolay said that it was not someone else, but the Orthodox faith that defeated slavery. The day's celebrations culminated in a ceremonial tattoo at 20 April Square in Panagyurishte, attended by President Iliana Iotova, National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotsova, Panagyurishte Mayor Zhelyazko Gagov, Panagyurishte Municipal Council Chairman Ivan Lalov, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, representatives of local authorities, and members of Parliament.

"Let our eyes turn to this cross, and let our hearts bow before it," Metropolitan Nikolay said further. He explained that the cross before him was the altar cross from the church in the village of Poibrene, the same cross that led Bulgaria to its Liberation. "With this cross, at this very spot in the town of Panagyurishte, the flag sewn by Princess Rayna was consecrated, and it was with this cross that Georgi Benkovski’s band of fighters was blessed,” he said, referring to key figures in the April Uprising.

According to him, it was before this very cross that the heroes took their oaths, prayed, and kissed before battle. "Before this cross, death was transformed into immortality," Metropolitan Nikolay noted.

He added that just as Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross so that He might rise again, so too was the uprising crucified on this cross, but Bulgaria rose again.

/DS/