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The National Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in Athens was officially opened on February 14, 2026, on the feast day of the Dormition of Saint Constantine - Cyril the Philosopher, and was consecrated by Bishop Meletius of Znepol, Rector of the St. John of Rila Sofia Theological Seminary.

BTA Director General Kiril Valchev emphasised that with the National Press Club and a correspondent in Athens, BTA is now present in the capitals of all countries neighbouring Bulgaria. He stated that the National Press Club of BTA in Athens is the 44th press club in Bulgaria and abroad and will serve as a home for all Bulgarian media, as well as for Greek media with an interest in Bulgaria.

The opening of a BTA press club in Athens is an important moment for Bulgaria, Greece, and journalism, said Aria Agatsa, President of the Board of the Greek national news agency ANA-MPA. “This is a very important moment for relations between the two countries, because we are united by history, culture, and religion,” she stressed.

An exhibition presenting the history of the Glagolitic script - the first Slavic alphabet created by Saints Cyril and Methodius - and its significance for the spiritual and cultural development of the Slavic peoples was also opened at the BTA Press Club in Athens.

Among the guests at the event were also the Bulgarian Ambassador to Greece, Valentin Poryazov, the Rector of St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Prof. Dr. Georgi Valchev, Bulgarian National Radio Director General Milen Mitev, Anton Andonov, member of the Board of the Bulgarian National Television, Vyara Ankova, Chief Operating Officer of Nova Broadcasting Group, Gabriela Naplatanova from the Council for Electronic Media, the Consul General of Bulgaria in Thessaloniki, Anton Markov, and jazz singer Viki Almazidu.

Video messages were sent by basketball player Aleksandar Vezenkov, who plays for Greece’s Olympiacos, and by footballer Kiril Despodov, who plays for PAOK and is captain of Bulgaria’s national football team.