site.btaCommemoration of 1876 April Uprising Closes with National Gathering in ​​Oborishte

Hundreds of Bulgarians gathered in the historical village of ​​Oborishte on Friday, where in 1876 the First Grand National Assembly was established, and its members made a decision to declare the April Uprising.

The national commemoration in front of the monument to the first national members of parliament began with a prayer service of thanksgiving and the blessing of water. Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova delivered a solemn speech, pointing out that with the way it was convened and with its decisions, the Oborishte assembly laid the foundations of our modern democratic statehood and of Bulgarian parliamentarism.

Panagyurishte Municipal Council Chair Ivan Lalov pointed out that in Oborishte the fate of an entire people was being decided and Bulgarian unity was being sanctified. He stressed that the organized will gave impetus to the April Uprising. "The spirit was embodied in action. The participants gathered with the clear decision to create a state from one people," Lalov said, adding that the more the uprising moves away in time, the more it shines with the pure and bright light of the human ideal of Fatherland, people and freedom. "Oborishte is a symbol of enthusiasm, sacrifice, suffering and faith. An indestructible faith in the bright future of the Bulgarian people,"  Lalov concluded.

With a solemn ceremony, members of the Vasil Levski student battalion from Strelcha and Panagyurishte laid wreaths in front of the monument on behalf of state and municipal institutions, public organizations and political parties.

Among the official guests of the celebration were MPs Ivaylo Shotev from Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria and Petya Tsankova from BSP-United Left, as well as BTA Director General Kiril Valchev.