site.btaUPDATED Politicians Address Bulgarians on Occasion of Day of Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, Bulgarian Alphabet, Education, Culture, Slav Letters

Bulgarian politicians Saturday extended their greetings to the nation on the occasion of May 24, the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education, and Culture, and Slav Letters.

Continue to preserve the traditions of the Bulgarian state and the testaments of our ancestors. This is how President Rumen Radev addressed the residents and guests in Blagoevgrad during the solemn celebration of the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture, and Slav Letters, as well as the city's holiday.

“Let us thank all the bright personalities who have taught us love of kindred and homeland, honour and morality, who have touched us with their example and have shown us how to defend the truth and how to preserve Bulgaria's worthy name,” the Head of State added. He stressed that Bulgaria has always been at the heart of Europe with its culture, enlightenment and incredible achievements of Bulgarian talents.

Vice President Iliana Iotova said that "the Bulgarian language was created to unite and glorify rather than to divide and destroy." She took part in a solemn celebration in Sofia, as well as in a festive procession that started from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum and ended in front of the library. Saturday's procession was also joined by Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil and Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev.

"If the mind prays in an unknown language, the spirit prays but the mind remains unglorified. From Bulgaria, books began to speak in a language that many could understand," Iotova said, adding that the lights that guide a nation forward are knowledge and culture. "And light is life," she noted. 

Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova greeted "all people of the word, who with their daily efforts preserve and develop education, science, culture and spirituality in Bulgaria and around the world." "We especially need all of them today, when we must not lose faith in the strength of the Bulgarian spirit, which has withstood the vicissitudes of different eras and trials," she noted. "On the most sacred Bulgarian holiday, let us bow with pride and respect to the immortal work of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius. Let us remember with deep gratitude and a sense of responsibility that our first teachers not only created the Slavic script, but also laid the foundations of a new Christian literary culture," she said. Thanks to their work Bulgarians have the opportunity to read and write in their native language and to rise spiritually and scientifically, preserving their national identity this way, Kiselova added. 

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said that May 24 is "the brightest Bulgarian holiday - a ray from the past that lights the present and guides us towards the future." He also described it as "a symbol of Bulgaria’s spiritual greatness and the never-ending pursuit of knowledge, enlightenment and progress." The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to "the thousands of Bulgarians around the world who keep the Bulgarian spirit alive through their hard work, knowledge and loyalty.” He laid special emphasis on the key role of Bulgarian Sunday schools abroad, calling them centres of knowledge and spirit, "where our language, culture and identity are preserved."

Deputy Prime Minister and Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Atanas Zafirov described May 24 as "a holiday we carry in our hearts - not just as a memory, but as a living mission whose power is timeless." "This is the day when we are reminded of the power of word, the importance of education, and the beauty of our language." "On May 24, we honour the legacy of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius - the creators of letters, thanks to which we have preserved our language, faith and identity throughout the centuries. This is the day when Bulgaria shines with spiritual strength and reminds us that knowledge and the written word are the foundation of an enlightened nation," Zafirov added. He stresses that "the work of our first teachers is not merely a page of history, but a living cultural heritage that connects us to Europe."

GERB leader Boyko Borissov extended his greetings to the Bulgarian people in a Facebook post. He shared a video showing the Bulgarian flag and images of Saints Cyril and Methodius, accompanied by the anthem of the holiday.

Also on Facebook, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria described May 24 as "the holiday that brings us together as a nation," "the holiday that allows us to say 'thank you' to all educators, awakeners, and enlighteners." The coalition wrote that every single letter of the Bulgarian alphabet carries meaning, evokes memory and embodies culture. 

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov wrote in a Facebook post: "Happy May 24, Bulgarians!", and recalled that that Bulgaria has given the world the Cyrillic alphabet.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski said that "with the power of the word, every new beginning is born". "Spirituality, knowledge and culture are the building blocks of statehood," he added. "I congratulate all Bulgarian teachers and lecturers who are called to enlighten and educate the children of Bulgaria, as well as all students, cultural and public figures, awakeners, and artists,” Peevski said. 

May May 24 inspire us to continue to build bridges between people, to protect and develop the spiritual wealth of our nation, for the sake of our common future, DRF floor leader Dzhevdet Chakarov wrote on his party’s Facebook page. DRF is convinced that through knowledge and empathy we can build a more just, democratic and modern society.

There Is Such a People leader Slavi Trifonov said that "the Bulgarian language makes Bulgarians different and special." "With the advent of AI and the fact that the Internet is becoming such an important part of our lives, language is starting to become universal and all of this could fade away. Who knows? Hopefully it will not happen", he stressed. 

Morality, Unity, Honor (MECh) leader Radostin Vasilev wrote on Facebook Saturday that on May 24 "we honour the legacy of those who made us proud of Bulgaria’s enormous contribution to the world cultural heritage and the development of all Slavs." "We commemorate the holiday of spiritual elevation and the pursuit of excellence through the achievements of science and culture," Vasilev added. "This day cleanses the souls of all Bulgarians, united in a spiritual and cultural brotherhood where neither rank nor age matters. Bulgaria was reborn through enlightenment and culture, and once again, these will guide us towards freedom and progress, towards a society where the knowledgeable will be valued, and those pure in spirit will lead the way," the MECh leader noted. 

Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev described May 24 as "a holiday that no other nation has," noting that "the work of the holy brothers and their disciples is our unique contribution to European and world civilization." The Minister said that Bulgarian teachers, lecturers, artists, scientists, writers, and those working in museums, community centres and libraries are "people we should believe in" and "people we, as a society, must invest in." Valchev said that May 24 is "a day of language, culture, spirituality – the things that connect us, wherever we may be in the world. "It is on this day that belief in the future is at its strongest — in the bright future of our children. But in order to make it a reality, we must promote education and culture as national and budgetary priorities. Because education is our most direct - and only - path to building a prosperous and harmonious society. And spirituality and culture are the pathways to challenging the consumerist model of life that overwhelms us, instilling instead values and ideals. Few nations have the privilege of celebrating a holiday like 24 May. We do," the Minister said. 

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said: "The work of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius gave us not just an alphabet, but also the power to express our thoughts, preserve our history and to pass down what is good and worthy. The Bulgarian alphabet lives on in books, in speech, and in our hearts. It connects generations. We must remember that it is not what we say, but how we say it. Words have power, they can unite, heal and inspire. The language of respect, truth and kindness makes our society stronger, while rudeness and hatred hold it back. Today more than ever, we must keep our language alive and our speech pure, showing children that knowledge is power and a kind word is a value. This is our responsibility to them, to us, and to those who gave us the alphabet."