site.btaPresident Radev Attends Reception at Bulgarian Embassy in Rome

Bulgaria's great contribution to European civilization is that it spread a new literacy and culture to all other Slavic peoples, President Rumen Radev said Wednesday at a reception at the Bulgarian Embassy in Rome on the occasion of May 24, Day of Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture, and of Slavic Literature. The head of state is on a two-day visit to the Vatican and Italy. 

Radev thanked Bulgarian Ambassador Todor Stoyanov for the upward development of relations between Bulgaria and Italy.

The celebration of May 24 in Rome is symbolic and has emotional charge because as early as the 9th century Pope Adrian II received the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius in Santa Maria Maggiore, declaring them "equal apostles" and consecrating their work and priceless books. Centuries later, in 1980, Pope John Paul II proclaimed them co-patrons of Europe for the cultural paths they paved, the President said.

During the event, Radev conferred the Order of St Cyril and Methodius, First Class, to the Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna, Puglia and Liguria - Franco Castellini, Anna Maria Patrizia Gadaleta and Michele Scandroglio for their great services in culture and education.