site.btaCulture Minister Miloshev: On May 11 Words Bring Us Together and Memory Unites Us

Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev opened an anniversary exhibition, “Word and Memory”, at the Sredets gallery, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the National Literary Museum.

In his speech, he emphasized the significance of May 11 as the day honoring Saints Cyril and Methodius and highlighting Bulgarian culture, language, and memory. Miloshev described his participation in the event as a symbolic start to his new position and a major responsibility toward cultural heritage.

He also stressed the importance of the exhibition as a bridge between archival heritage and the public, allowing literary artifacts to reach a wider audience. The National Literary Museum was presented as a “living spiritual map” of Bulgarian literature, preserving the legacy of authors such as Ivan Vazov, Peyo Yavorov, and the Slaveykov family.

He added that the anniversary exhibition “is impressive not only with the richness of the relics, artifacts, and documents presented, but also with its profound message. Through its themes, it reveals the word as a beginning, confession, testament, treasure, and remembrance, and the writer as its guardian and a moral compass for society.”

“Literary memory should not remain confined solely to archives, it must be alive, visible, and shared. Only in this way can we properly present Bulgarian literature and culture to the world as part of the European spiritual heritage and the European cultural space,” the Minister also said.

Museum Director Atanas Kapralov noted that Bulgarian writers play a key role as “language creators,” shaping and developing the literary language across different historical periods. According to him, they are the driving force behind the spiritual and cultural elevation of the country, and their role far exceeds that of mere artists.

“The writer in Bulgaria is not only a creator, he is almost always a public figure, engaged with the fate of his people,” Kapralov said. He added that the Bulgarian writer is “the incorruptible conscience of the nation” and a mediator between Bulgarian and world culture.

“In the 50 year-long history of the National Literary Museum, we have had periods of inspiration and construction, but also difficult moments of lack of prospects and fragmentation. Today I am glad that the spirit of inspiration and creativity prevails within our small but ambitious team,” Kapralov also said.

Attending the exhibition opening were the Deputy Culture Minister Plamen Slavov, Sofia City Library Director Marchela Borisova, Union of Bulgarian Writers Chairman Boyan Angelov, literary critics Prof. Mihail Nedelchev and Albert Benbasat, as well as the long-time Rector of the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, Prof. Stoyan Dechev.