site.bta500 Medics Who Died in War of Liberation Are Commemorated in Sofia

On the occasion of the 148th anniversary of the Liberation of Bulgaria (1877-1878), the memory of medical personnel who died during the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation was honored with a minute of silence, a memorial prayer, and the laying of wreaths and flowers. The ceremony took place on Thursday in front of the Doctors’ Monument in Sofia.

As a sign of gratitude, Bishop Gerasim of Melnik and Archpriest Vladimir Tishchuk, leader of the Russian Church in Bulgaria, officiated a memorial prayer. Military honors were performed by the National Guard Unit.

“Today we are here, united by the idea of once again expressing our gratitude and appreciation to the 535 doctors, pharmacists, nurses, feldshers, and orderlies who died in the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation - a feat thanks to which we are Bulgarians and speak the Bulgarian language,” said Hristo Grigorov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Red Cross.

“Thanks to the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation, we gained our freedom,” he added.

“Thirty-three years ago, the Bulgarian Red Cross did everything possible for this monument to be consecrated according to Orthodox canon, and since then we have gathered here every year to pay homage,” Grigorov also said.

“This monument was built with funds from Russian military personnel and volunteers. It is history, and we must preserve history, because it is the foundation for educating our children,” Grigorov added.

Messages of gratitude were received from the President of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Health, and the Bulgarian Medical Association.

Wreaths were laid at the Doctors’ Monument on behalf of the President of Bulgaria, Iliana Iotova, the Chair of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the Mayor of Sofia, the Chief of Defence, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Bulgaria’s Ombudsman, the Bulgarian Red Cross, the leadership of the G. S. Rakovski Defence College, the Military Medical Academy, Pirogov Hospital, the Bulgarian Medical Association, and others.