site.btaGotse Delchev Marks 113 Years Since Liberation with Day-long Programme

Gotse Delchev marked the 113th anniversary of the liberation of the town and the Nevrokop region from Ottoman rule with a programme of events on Friday. State and local officials, institutions, political and civic organizations, schools and residents honoured those who gave their lives for Bulgaria’s freedom.

Commemorations opened at the monuments to General Stiliyan Kovachev, Hristo Botev and Peyo Yavorov, followed by a memorial and thanksgiving service in Sts Cyril and Methodius Church led by Father Georgi. Tributes were also paid at the monuments to Gotse Delchev and to those who fell in the wars.

Among those attending were Mayor Vladimir Moskov; MPs Kiril Dobrev (BSP–United Left), Fatima Yildiz (Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) – New Beginning) and Ahmed Vranchev (Alliance for Rights and Freedoms); Blagoevgrad Regional Governor Georgi Dinev; and the chairs of the municipal councils in Gotse Delchev and Blagoevgrad, Ivan Gerov and Antoaneta Bogdanova, along with representatives of neighbouring municipalities and civic groups.

Events ran throughout the day, including tributes in Popovi Livadi and at the monuments to General Konstantin Zhostov and Stoyan Malchankov. The programme concluded with the Pirin Ensemble’s stage production Between Nine Mountains at the House of Culture, greeted with sustained applause.

The city day has been observed since 1992 as the anniversary of the 1912 liberation of Nevrokop (now Gotse Delchev) during the Balkan War and is held according to the Old Style (Julian) calendar. Between October 5 and 18, 1912, the Rhodope Detachment defeated Ottoman forces and freed the town; sources cite October 17, 18 or 19 for the liberation date, so the municipal council sets the celebration date each year. In 2025, events ran from October 10 to 17, culminating on October 17.