site.btaBulgaria Celebrates 139th Anniversary of Liberation from Ottoman Rule

Bulgaria Celebrates 139th Anniversary of  Liberation from Ottoman Rule

Sofia, March 3 (BTA) - The 139th anniversary of Bulgaria's Liberation from Ottoman rule was marked Friday with various events across the country.

In Sofia, the national flag was raised at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in the presence of President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Rumen Radev. The President reviewed the guard and laid a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier.

Attending the event were also Vice President Iliyana Iotova, caretaker Defence Minister Stefan Yanev, other ministers, top brass, Patriarch Neophyte, Chief Mufti Mustafa Hadji, diplomats and citizens.

Patriarch Neophyte officiated a memorial service for the heroes of the Liberation at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Many heads of state cabled greetings to Radev for Bulgaria's National Day, among them United States President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the presidents of the State of Palestine, AND of Pakistan, King Philippe of Belgium, and Pope Francis, Radev's press secretariat said.