Today marks 141 years since the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule, which lasted five centuries.
Like today, in 1878, the Treaty of St. Stephen was signed between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, ending the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878), the Ottoman Empire conceded defeat and the foundations of the Third Bulgarian were laid. States.
Bulgaria is established as an autonomous state, which is subordinate to the Ottoman Empire and includes almost all the territories of the European part of the empire, which are inhabited by Bulgarians. The total area of Bulgaria exceeds 170 thousand square kilometers.
Bulgaria acquires a number of rights, including the application for recognition by countries that have not signed the Treaty of St. Stephen, the right to establish international trade relations, the right to own the police. The Treaty of Agios Stefanos gives Bulgaria the ideal of national unity.
The date of its signing has been announced for decades as a public holiday. In 1990, by decision of the Council of State and the Parliament, March 3 was declared a national holiday.
On this occasion, the Bulgarian school of Famagusta in collaboration with the Bulgarian-speaking parish of the Diocese and other bodies, performed a solemn eulogy in the presence of the Most Venerable Metropolitan of Constantia and Famagusta Mr. Vassilios in the old church of St. George in Paralim.
Speaking to those present, Metropolitan Vassilios said that all Orthodox peoples have their relationship with both the nation and the Church and that is why, in every national anniversary, praises and thanks are returned to the Almighty God.
He expressed his satisfaction and satisfaction for the three parishes that were created with the re-establishment of the Holy Metropolis (Bulgarian-speaking, Russian-speaking, Romanian-speaking), thus strengthening the local church's effort to embrace all the Orthodox brothers who live in the free.
He wished everyone and the Bulgarian people progress, emphasizing that the national holidays are a springboard to express our struggle for the survival of the nation and the ideals that each people carries and on which it bases its existence.
A festive event followed at the spiritual center of the Metropolitan Church.
Famagusta.News