site.btaBulgarian Red Cross Marks 146th Anniversary with Exhibition

An exhibition dedicated to the 146th anniversary of the Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC), titled The Bulgarian Red Cross - Personalities, Events and Symbols in Stamps and Postcards, will open on October 25, 2024, in Sofia, BRC said here on Thursday.

The exhibition presents a collection of postcards and stamps of philatelist Totyu Karastoykov, inspired by his long-standing interest in the BRC and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IRCRC). The collection features important personalities and events related to the humanitarian mission of the organization, both in Bulgaria and around the world. The curator of the exhibition Efrosina Stoycheva.

The collection reveals the history of the Red Cross and its role in society during different periods, as well as the symbols and principles that the organization stands for. Humanity, solidarity and volunteering are the main focus of the exhibition which pays tribute to the thousands of volunteers who have dedicated themselves to helping those in need.

The organization noted that volunteers are the strength of the BRC and IRCRC, as their selfless work not only provides support to the most vulnerable, but also inspires society to unite around values of compassion and empathy. “They are true bearers of humanity, conveying not only help but also hope in the worst moments of crises and disasters," BRC added.

The first Bulgarian Red Cross Society was founded in Sliven on October 25, 1878, under the presidency of Metropolitan Seraphim. The organization’s statute was approved by Prince Alexander Dondukov-Korsakov, Governor General of Eastern Rumelia. After the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia in 1885, the National Organization was established on September 20 with Metropolitan Clement as its chairman. It was approved by an official decree of the Bulgarian Prince Alexander of Battenberg, who took the BRC under his patronage. The organization was also recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva with a letter dated October 20, 1885.

BRC is the largest humanitarian organization in Bulgaria, as of 2023 consisting of 141,580 members, including 16,546 volunteers, 2,691 unions, 264 municipal organizations and 28 regional organizations.