site.btaToday's Observances: May 11

The Church:

- Day of St Cyril and St Methodius, inventors of first version of Slavic alphabet in 9th century. Secular holiday marked May 24.

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1851: St Cyril and St Methodius Day first celebrated in Plovdiv school named after the saintly brothers.

1872: Exarch Antim I reads proclamation of independence of Bulgarian Church.

1973: Diplomatic relations established with Colombia.

1990: Bulgaria applies for special invitee status in Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe.

2005: Parliament ratifies Bulgaria's Treaty of Accession to European Union.