site.btaUPDATED Today's Observances: January 18

The world:

- Beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25)

The Orthodox Church marks the Feast Day of St Athanasios and St Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria, and St Joachim, Patriarch of Turnovo.

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1885: Parliament passes an Act Establishing the Bulgarian National Bank.

1992: Diplomatic relations established with Armenia at embassy level.     

2007:  The European Parliament passes a resolution in support of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor, sentenced to death on December 19, 2006 on charges of intentionally infecting some 400 Libyan children with the HIV virus that causes AIDS.