site.btaNational Guard Unit Representatives Visit Pontifical Swiss Guard, Exchange Experience
On June 14 Pontifical Swiss Guard Commander Colonel Christoph Graf received the Commander of the National Guard Unit, Colonel Ivan Ivanov, and ten guardsmen, together with representatives of Young Guard units from 18 Bulgarian cities, school headmasters, university lecturers and students. The meeting at the Vatican was also attended by the Swiss Ambassador to the Holy See, Denis Knobel, who was his country's envoy to Bulgaria in 2014-2018.
The visit came as part of the bilateral exchange between Bulgaria and the Vatican and was held on the initiative of Bulgaria's mission to the Holy See with the organizational support of the Young Guards units.
The meeting was occasioned by the agreed exchange of experience, handed over the generations back in the history of the two guard units now facing present-day challenges.
Commander Graf stressed the importance of personal dignity of each Guardsman, and the added responsibility of the uniform that in the present to which the uniform only gives added responsibility relatively favourable economic conditions it is very difficult for young people to commit themselves to Guard service. For his part, Commander Ivanov stressed the importance of the Guard in preserving the ideals passed down by the ancestors combined with responsibility in the service of the Fatherland and the people.
Established in 1506 under Pope Julius II, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is among the oldest military units in continuous operation. The Bulgarian National Guard Unit is heir to the Royal Guard of Prince Alexander of Battenberg established in 1879.
During their visit to Rome, the Bulgarian visitors laid a wreath at the Bulgarian plaque in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore where Slav books received official recognition from the Vatican. A wreath was also before the relics of St Cyril in the Basilica of San Clemente.
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