Bulgaria marks 116 years of its independence
On September 22, Bulgaria celebrates one of its most important official holidays – Independence Day. On this date in 1908, the country officially declared its full state independence from the Ottoman Empire.
The historic event took place in the old Bulgarian capital of Veliko Tarnovo. Prince Ferdinand read a special manifesto at the Holy Forty Martyrs Church, with which Bulgaria proclaimed itself a kingdom. This act put an end to the vassal dependence that had been imposed on the country after the Liberation in 1878.
Today, cities across the country are marking the anniversary with solemn ceremonies, wreath-laying, and festive concerts. In Blagoevgrad and other regional centers, citizens are gathering in front of monuments to heroes to honor the memory of those who fought for the freedom and sovereignty of the Bulgarian state.
The holiday is an occasion for national pride and a reminder of Bulgaria's long journey toward an equal place among European nations. Independence Day remains a symbol of the unity and the aspiration of the Bulgarian people for an independent future.