Source: FOCUS Information Agency
Sofia, November 1, 2016
On November 1 Bulgaria marks the Day of National Enlighteners. The holiday is dedicated to the work of academics, enlighteners, and fighters for national liberation, who carried the values and morals of the nation over the centuries.
The Day of Enlighteners was celebrated for the first time in Bulgaria’s second biggest city of Plovdiv back in 1909.
In 1923 Tsar Boris III declared November 1 a national holiday commemorating the merited and honoured Bulgarians.
However, in 1945 the holiday was banned. The marking of the Day of the Enlighteners was resumed on October 28, 1992, when it was declared an official national holiday.
The National Enlighteners are dozens of fighters for national liberation, and men of education, science and culture who have contributed to the spiritual development of Bulgaria.
Some of the most popular names are: Saint Paisius of Hilandar, Ivan Vazov, Gregory Tsamblak, Konstantin Kostenechki, Vladislav Gramatik, Matey Gramatik, Saint John of Rila, Neofit Bozveli, brothers Dimitar and Konstantin Miladinovi, Georgi Stoykov Rakovski, Vasil Levski, Hristo Botev, Stefan Karadzha, Lyuben Karavelov, Dobri Chintulov, and many others.
The Day of the Enlighteners will be marked with a series of events throughout the entire country, including traditional flag raising ceremonies, while all dioceses of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church will hold services commemorating the glory of the national enlighteners and for the health and wellbeing of the Bulgarian nation.
