site.btaToday's Observances: August 17-18

August 17

The world:

- National Day of Gabon: Independence Day (1960);

- National Day of Indonesia: Independence Day (1945).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

986: Bulgarian army, led by Tsar Samuil, defeats invading Byzantine troops of Emperor Basil II in Battle of Trajan's Gates (mountain pass in Ihtiman Sredna Gora Range, 70 km east of Sofia). Byzantine army is routed, and emperor barely escapes. This is worst defeat suffered by Basi II during his campaign to conquer Bulgaria.

1891: Ground broken for Bulgaria's oldest and largest coal-mining operation, Pernik State Mines (closed down on October 26, 1997).

2001: First All-Bulgarian Convention in Mala Pereshchepina takes place. Mala Pereshchepina is village in Poltava Oblast, Ukraine, where Khan Kubrat, who established confederation of Old Great Bulgaria ca. 635 AD, is believed to have been buried on this site.

August 18

- Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks dormition of St John the Miracle Worker of Rila (876-946).

Bulgaria:

- Miners' Day (mineworkers honour their patron saint, St John of Rila; decreed by Prince Ferdinand I in 1903, restored by Council of Ministers in 1994).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1888: Rousse-Varna Railway becomes Bulgarian property.

1890: Bulgarian Hunting and Fishing Union established.

1964: Diplomatic relations with Iran, established on November 15, 1897, at diplomatic agency level, are promoted to embassy level.

1987: Bulgaria is divided into nine administrative regions.

1992: Diplomatic relations are established with Slovenia.

2000: Bulgarian-Romanian Association of Green Tourism is established.