site.btaOn St George's Day, Bulgarian Armed Forces Mark Day of Valour

102 MILITARY - ARMED FORCES DAY - OBSERVANCES

On St George's Day, Bulgarian Armed Forces
Mark Day of Valour by Blessing of Colours,
Parades, Demonstrations in Sofia, Karlovo, Varna


Sofia, May 6 (BTA) - Bulgaria on Thursday celebrated the Day of Valour and of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. It was marked in Sofia and the garrisons of Kazanlak, Varna and Plovdiv by various events. Due to the anti-epidemic restrictions, the military displays will take place in various locations instead of being concentrated in the capital.

In the morning, the military standards were blessed and sprinkled with holy water by Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, at a ritual in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in Sofia.

After the blessing of the colours, President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Rumen Radev, Vice President Iliana Iotova, outgoing Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov, the Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, and Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova laid wreaths at the Monument to the Unknown Soldiers to honour the fallen for the freedom and independence of Bulgaria.

A 21-gun salute was fired while the national anthem was played.

Nearly 350 service members in seven blocks, representing the National Guards Unit, the Land Forces, the Bulgarian Air Force, the Bulgarian Navy and the Joint Special Operations Command, marched past the dignitaries, with the Ceremonial Guards Band bringing up the rear.