University of Mining and Geology Marks Patron Saint's Day

Diana Dukovska, Ivan Dolev

The St Ivan Rilski University of Mining and Geology marked its patron saint's day, Sofia, October 16, 2025 (BTA Photo/Hristo Kasabov)

Sofia,

16.10.2025 18:13

(BTA)

The St Ivan Rilski University of Mining and Geology marked its patron saint's day on Thursday with a formal event and a traditional welcoming of first-year students into the guild of miners and geologists.

Among the guests at the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister and Innovation and Growth Minister Tomislav Donchev, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov, Deputy Education and Science Minister Natalia Mihalevska, Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev, as well as lecturers, students, representatives of academia and the private sector.

Innovation and Growth Minister Tomislav Donchev said: "The University of Mining and Geology teaches a profession of the future, because the ongoing industrial revolution, and all those to come, would be impossible without the extractive industry."

Addressing the students, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said: "You have chosen the path of the capable and the knowledgeable - a path that will lead you into energy, one of Bulgaria's most promising sectors."

Deputy Education and Science Minister Natalia Mihalevska conveyed greetings on behalf of the Minister of Education and stressed the importance of engineering education for the country's sustainable development.

In his remarks, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev noted that the university was among the first higher education institutions to sign a cooperation agreement with the news agency. On the occasion of the feast day of St Ivan Rilski, he recalled some of the saint's teachings focused on the spiritual and moral growth of humankind.

The university's Rector, Prof. Ivaylo Koprev, congratulated students and faculty, stressing that the day was a celebration of knowledge, continuity and the spirit of the patron saint. Тhe University of Mining and Geology is a significant and indispensable institution where knowledge is passed on - knowledge that lies at the foundation of human progress.

Among the official guests were Nikolay Valkanov, Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees and Chair of the Board of Directors of Minstroy Holding AD; Dragomir Draganov, Executive Director of Elatzite-Med AD; Dominic Hamers, Executive Director of Geotechmin OOD; and Irena Tsakova, General Manager of Dundee Precious Metals Krumovgrad.

The celebration concluded with a water blessing ceremony and the traditional initiation of first-year students into the guild of miners and geologists.

/RY/