site.btaSofia University Celebrates Feast Day of Its Patron Saint Kliment Ohridski
Sofia University remembered its patron saint, the medieval scholar Kliment Ohridski (or Clement of Ohrid), on his feast day on Tuesday. The celebration provided an occasion to look back on the 137-year-long history of Bulgaria's oldest institution of higher learning.
Since its establishment in 1888, "the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia has managed to become a true home for a whole constellation of remarkable scholars and lecturers," said University Rector Georgi Valchev in a speech at an academic ceremony.
Valchev noted: "'Unquestioning in his love and unfeigned in his humility' – this is the truest and most accurate description given of the patron of our university by the author of his short vita, Dimitar Khomatian. It is worth, each year on the day when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates the 'first bishop in the Bulgarian language', Kliment Ohridski, recalling these words of his, since they reflect the essence of the spiritual mission of this remarkable saint, which we must continue today."
Before the commemorative event in the university's ceremonial hall, the institution's Academic Council laid a wreath at the monument to St Kliment Ohridski, which stands in a small park across the street from the main university building. By tradition, flowers were also laid at the monuments of the donors, brothers Evlogi and Hristo Georgiev, at the main entrance to the university. Yet another floral tribute was held at the memorial plaques of those who died for their homeland during the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) – lecturers and students of Sofia University.
Renowned journalist Boyko Vasilev, who hosts National Television's weekly political talk show Panorama and sits on the Board of Trustees of Sofia University, delivered an academic address on the topic "The Human Being as a University". The ceremony continued with the granting of certificates to the newly elected professors for the period from November 25, 2024 to November 25, 2025, and with the presentation of awards.
Among those attending the academic ceremony were Academic Council members, former rectors of the university, lecturers and students. The Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), Kiril Valchev, was there as well.
/RY/
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