The 115th anniversary of Bulgaria's Independence will be celebrated on September 22 in Plovdiv with a festive speech, laying of wreaths and flowers, a performance by the Plovdiv Brass Band conducted by Nikolay Geshev and an attractive reenactment of the events of 1908 by the Patriotism Committee. On this date in 1908 the Bulgarian state, one of the oldest in Europe, declared its independence. This came 30 years after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, which ended with the Treaty of San Stefano signed on 3 March 1878. Bulgaria thus reappeared on the map of Europe after five centuries of Ottoman rule. On September 22, 1908 in the town of. The Bulgarian Prince Ferdinand proclaimed Bulgaria's independence with a manifesto. The day was declared an official holiday by a decision of the National Assembly on 10 September 1998.

The ceremony on the occasion of the 115th anniversary will take place on the 22 September square, where the Column of Independent Bulgaria is located. The ceremony starts at 11.30. The event is part of the city's cultural calendar.

Dr. Stefan Shivachev - historian, author of publications on the history of the Plovdiv region, head of international and national projects, former long-time director of the Regional History Museum, Zlatko Pavlov will give a speech.

The program of the celebration starts at 10.00 with a prayer service in the Church of St. Nedelya and at 10.30 with the laying of wreaths and flowers on the memorial plaque of Alexander Malinov at the foot of the Old Town, next to the East Gate. Both events are traditionally organized by the Petko Karavelov Association Plovdiv.

The Singer’s Society “Angel Boukoreshtliev“ is also taking part in the celebration of the Bulgarian Independence Day with a concert in Old Plovdiv. On September 22 at 11 am on the square above Hisar Kapia the oldest secular choir in Bulgaria will present a program of renaissance and folk songs arranged for multi-voice performance.  The conductor is Ilian Tiganev.

The concert from the series "The Song of the Hills" is the opening one for the new creative season of the singing society and is part of the official program to celebrate the 115th anniversary of the declaration of Independence of Bulgaria.

"The Song of the Hills" is a series that the singing society is building on from 2019. A series of concerts present a thematically selected programme on significant historical dates and at landmark locations in Plovdiv.

The venue is also symbolic - the square in the heart of the Old Town is between the fortress gate, the Ethnographic Museum and the Tourist Information Centre - emblems of the spirit and urban planning of different eras. We invite Plovdiv residents and visitors to experience the celebration with us.

Program:

September 22, 2023

10:00 - Prayers in the church St. Nedelya, organized by the Petko Karavelov Center Association.

10.30 - Laying of wreaths and flowers at the memorial plaque of Alexander Malinov at the square of the same name at the foot of the Old Town (next to the St. Nedelya Church), organized by the Petko Karavelov Center Association.

11.00 - Concert of the Singer’s Society “Angel Boukoreshtliev “ on the square above Hisar Kapia in the Old Town. Conductor Ilian Tiganev.

11.30 - Ceremonial celebration of the 115th anniversary of the declaration of Independence of Bulgaria. Speech: Dr. Stefan Shivachev, host Zlatko Pavlov, 22 September square