site.btaParliamentary Delegations from Bulgaria and North Macedonia Pay Joint Tribute to Cyril and Methodius in Rome
Parliamentary delegations from Bulgaria and North Macedonia on Wednesday paid joint tribute to the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. That was where a set of Slav books brought by the two brothers were consecrated by Pope Adrian II in 868.
The two delegations laid wreaths simultaneously at their countries' respective memorial plaques in the basilica, which carry inscriptions about what happened in the 9th century.
Later in the day, parliament leaders Rossen Zhelyazkov of Bulgaria and Talat Xhaferi of North Macedonia gave a joint statement for the two countries' media.
Zhelyazkov said the visit of the two parliamentary delegations to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was a joint initiative. He said: "I am very glad that on this wonderful holiday we came together to lay wreaths in tribute to our great teachers Cyril and Methodius, thus showing that we share a common past and a common future. I am very glad that my colleague, Parliament President Xhaferi, gave this symbolic sign in a very friendly and cordial manner, and we gave that sign too."
Xhaferi said: "Celebrating the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, we went through all procedures we had to go through according to protocol, including an audience with the Pope. We were pleased to make an attempt - and succeed in that attempt - for the two of us, the parliament leaders, and the other representatives of the peoples of our lands, to stand together."
Also on Wednesday, the Bulgarian delegation led by Rossen Zhelyazkov was received by Pope Francis at a traditional audience occasioned by the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture and Slav Literature (May 24).
/VE/
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