| |
Sixth
September
|
The
Day of Plovdiv
|
|
| |
The
Russo-Turkish war set Bulgaria free from rule by the Ottoman Empire
in 1878, but it included only a small part of the Bulgarian lands.
The Berlin Congress revised the San Stefano Peace Treaty and sliced
the Bulgarian territory into several parts: the Principality of Bulgaria
with an elected knyaz (prince), and Eastern Roumelia with its capital
Plovdiv and a Christian Governor-General, appointed by the sultan.
Half of the people were free, while the other half remained in the
sultan's caliphate. Thrace and Macedonia remained in the Ottoman Empire.
The Bulgarian people reacted against the decision of the Berlin Congress
with the Kresna-Razlog uprising of 1878-1879, Alexander I Battenberg was elected Prince, and accomplishment of the unification of Eastern
Rumelia and the Principality of Bulgaria was completed in year 1885. |
The
official flag of the City of Plovdiv
"Ancient
and Eternal"
|
|
| |
 |
| Prince
Alexander of Battenberg (1857-1893), a nephew of the Russian
czar, was elected Prince of Bulgaria in 1879. Russia continued
to withhold recognition of the union with Eastern Rumelia until
Prince Alexander abdicated. Finally, Russian-trained Bulgarian
army officers deposed the prince in August 1886. |
 |
|
|
| |
Above
is a painting created by the son of the famous Plovdiv artist,
Zlatiju Boiadjiev. The painting to be presented to the Museum of the Unification
by the artist, Georgy Bojadjiev, in ceremonies on September 6, 2001
at the Museum of the Re-Unification in Plovdiv. The 13 men represented
in the painting include Major Raicho Nikolov, Gavril Krustevich, Nedjalka
Shileva, Major Kosta Panitza, Petar Shilev, Chardafon Veliki, Second
row, Ivan Gechov, Zahari Stoyanov, Georgi Danchov, Major D. Nikolaev,
?, and ? . All were living in Plovdiv following the Russo-Turkish
war and were credited with the uprising which re-unified Bulgaria.
Hence, that Day of Re-Unification 116 years ago today is also known
as "Day of Plovdiv".
While
the police cordoned-off Plovdiv's Boulevard Sixth September to automoblile
traffic, thousands of citizens gathered on the street and sidewalks
around Unification Square for the 8:30 P.M. ceremony honoring the
day of the Bulgarian Re-Unification. A spectacular formal military
guard paid their respects and the audience heard an address by Bulgaria's
President Petar Stoyanov, himself a native of Plovdiv. A short fireworks
display climaxed the events of the day at Unification Square. At the
base of the momument the guard had placed garlands of flowers from
Bulgaria's political leaders. |
|
|
|
This
monument in the middle of Plovdiv's Unification Square on
Boulevard Sixth September honors the one-hundredth anniversary
of Bulgaria's re-unification. The monument depicts the Mother-Country
with the laurel wreath of victory stretched in her hands,
with her two wings representing the two regions brought together,
ready for the coming 20th century.
|
|
|
| |
|
| Speaking
to the audience on the cool, brisk September night, Bulgaria's
President Petar Stoyanov told the crowd of onlookers: |
|
| "I
hope that a turn over will happen in today's political morale
- that each Bulgarian politician, when time comes will be able
to say aloud: Time is not good for me, but thank God, it's good
for Bulgaria." |
|
|
| |
|
|
Several
hundred local citizens and political leaders gathered early
in the evening within the Historical Exposition Museum at
Unification Square for a special presentation ceremony.
|
 |
|
|
| |
Some of the floral garlands on display in the entrance of the Historical
Exposition Museum |
|
|
| |
A special thanks
to the staff of Historical Exposition Museum for their patience
and valuable assistance which made the preparation of this page
a possibility.
HISTORICAL
MUSEUM - PLOVDIV has opened a new web site. Please visit them.
|
Among
the honored citizens was Hristo Danov, shown above with his
wife. Danov died on February 10, 2003 at the age of 81 after
a brief illness. He was President of the Constitutional Court
of the Republic of Bulgaria and grandson of the famous Plovdiv
Publisher Hristo G. Danov.
Also in attendance at the ceremony was Bulgaria's Financial
Minister, Milen Velchev. |
|
|
|
This
5-Stotinki coin was issued in 1888, only some few years after
the re-unification. It was found in an Old Town Plovdiv antique
shop.
|
|
|
| |
|
To
an American observer, the deeply-felt and readily-expressed patriotism
of the Bulgarian citizen is an experience never to be forgotten. If
you are fortunate enough to be in Bulgaria on any one of their national
holidays, prepare yourself for a sobering, memorable experience. |
|
| |
Sixth
September
|
The
Day of Plovdiv
|
|
|
2001,