site.btaProf. Kiril Topalov Receives Annual Paisii of Hilendar Award

Prof. Kiril Topalov on Tuesday received the annual St Paisii of Hilendar state award at a ceremony at the Council of Ministers. The award was presented by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov. 
 
“We are united in our view that the award goes to one of Bulgaria’s brightest minds. With his intellect and humility, he showed Bulgaria how an intellectual who stands by his principles and morals should look like,“ said Prime Minister Denkov while presenting the award. He quoted Topalov’s words that the most important thing for man is “not to fight senseless battles, but only the most important ones to protect himself, his family, a fellow human being, his principles or country”. 

Attending were Culture Minister Krastyu Krastev and Bulgarian Academy of Sciences President Julian Revalski. 

For his part, Prof. Topalov said that this the award that is dearest to him because he has dedicated his life to the history and literature of the Bulgarian Revival. “A nation is like a man. If you erase his memory, it will become a different person,” Topalov said in his speech.  

Prof. Topalov is a prominent writer, playwright, literary historian and critic, translator and diplomat, who has been recognized for his contribution to the national cultural identity and spiritual values. 
The St Paisii of Hilendar state award was established by a Council of Ministers decree on July 28, 2000.