site.btaStamp Commemorating Bulgarian Education Anthem and First May 24 Celebration Validated in Sofia

A postage stamp marking the 125th anniversary of the anthem of Bulgarian education and the 175th anniversary of the first May 24 celebrations in Plovdiv was validated at the Sts Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia on Thursday.

The issue was released jointly by the National Library, the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Bulgarian Posts. The stamp was designed by artist Stoyan Dechev.

National Library Director Kalina Ivanova said the validation ceremony was being held on the eve of May 24, the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture, and Slavic literature.

“We should feel grateful that we work for the glory and protection of the Bulgarian language and Bulgarian culture around the world,” Ivanova said during the ceremony.

Bulgarian Posts chief expert Pepa Markova presented the technical details of the issue, saying the stamp has a face value of EUR 1.35 and includes a vignette with a special postmark. The print run totals 5,500 copies.

Dechev said the National Library was a symbol of Bulgarian culture and the fitting place to present the commemorative issue. 

He also recalled the history behind the creation of the anthem Vurvi, narode vuzrodeni (“Go Forth, Revived People”) and highlighted the importance of music as one of the most powerful forms of art.

The artist said he had sought to recreate the spirit of the work through a combination of letters, musical notes and visual elements, paying tribute to its creators.