site.btaConsul General of Bulgaria in Odesa: Bessarabian Bulgarians Turned Wild Steppes Into Picturesque Corner

During a meeting hosted by the National press club of Bulgaria in Odesa, Bulgarian Consul General Svetoslav Ivanov said: "The Day of the Bessarabian Bulgarians is the day of those who transformed Bessarabia from wild steppes into a picturesque corner, creating infrastructure, building schools and churches".

The meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian national minority in Odesa and public organizations was part of events organized by the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Odesa, marking the Day of Bessarabian Bulgarians, October 29.

Before his welcoming speech, Consul General Ivanov called for a minute of silence in memory of the fallen Ukrainian soldiers and Bessarabian Bulgarians in the war against Russia.

"Dear guests, this unjust war has been going on for three years and I, as the Consul General of Bulgaria, confirm Bulgaria's support to Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, which is expressed in political, military-technical, humanitarian and financial assistance," he noted and added that Bulgaria is also working to ensure Ukraine's energy and environmental security.

Consul General Ivanov said that the date October 29 is dedicated to the Bessarabian Bulgarians, "those of our compatriots who, by virtue of their historical fate, have been living outside the borders of Bulgaria, on the territory of Ukraine and Moldova, for more than 200 years". He also added that the historical date dates back to the consecration of the Church of Holy Transfiguration in Bolhrad, which was officially opened on October 29, 1838.

Ivanov also mentioned that today the ties of the Bessarabian Bulgarians with their homeland are "extremely active and dynamic" and stressed the fact that there are currently around 62 Bulgarian Sunday schools operating on the territory of Ukraine and more and more young people are choosing to study higher education in Bulgarian universities.

At the end of his speech, Consul General Ivanov addressed to the Bulgarian community on his own behalf and on behalf of the caretaker Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Ivan Kondov congratulations on the Day of the Bessarabian Bulgarians and wished everyone "health, strong spirit, faith and preservation of the Bulgarian spirits in their hearts".

"Be united and help each other so that the Bulgarian national identity survives and endures for the next 200 years," Svetoslav Ivanov concluded.