site.btaParliament Chair Attends Thanksgiving Service at Nativity of Christ Memorial Church in Shipka

National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova attended a service at the Nativity of Christ memorial church here on Monday for Bulgaria's National Liberation Day. She was welcomed by Metropolitan Kyprian of Stara Zagora, who performed a thanksgiving service in the church. 

Speaking to journalists, Kiselova said that March 3 is very important not only because "we are at Shipka but also because it shows that the desire for freedom goes hand in hand with peace. Peace is what should give us the strength to move forward." Kiselova added that the volunteers in the Battle of Shipka demonstrated that "freedom is not given for free, and today's occasion serves as a reminder that we should be part of the coalition of those who desire peace, not war".

Kirprian told journalists: "May the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria, March 3, be a happy and blessed one. Let us always remember the covenant left by all those who died for the liberation of the faith and our homeland, Bulgarian volunteers and Russian soldiers. And let us always remember that the Scripture says that there is no greater love than that of laying down one's soul for one's neighbour. By remembering this truth and preserving our history, we will be able to move forward into the generations to come who will know the truth. And the truth is one - that they fell for the liberation of Bulgaria. Eternal and blessed be the memory of all those who fell for the liberation of Bulgaria, and may we, the descendants of those volunteers, always be in memory of them," His Eminence told journalists.