Balgarianovinite.com The of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (EABA) opened nominations for the Bulgarian Woman of the Year – St Zlata of Meglen Award, EABA Executive Director Rayna Mandzhukova said in an interview for BTA on Friday. “Any woman who goes beyond caring for her home and family and dedicates time and energy to her community is considered worthy of nomination for the award,” she said.
Speaking about the award and past nominations, Mandzhukova emphasized that a group of people becomes a community when it shares common goals and interests. “When we talk about Bulgarians living abroad, this sense of community develops when nostalgia for home becomes strong. Before that, they may just pass each other on the street or at bus stops and sometimes recognize each other only by the martensitsa [a traditional good luck charm] tied to their wrists. Today, Bulgarian communities and organizations exist on different continents, varying in size, activity, and cohesion, but they are fully functioning. I encourage them, if they believe there is a Bulgarian woman among them to whom they want to thank, they should nominate her. And regardless of whether she receives the statuette or not, she will be honoured, because the award is not really the statuette or the icon. In fact, the award is not given by EABA, it is given by the nominators, the moment they submit a nomination and give that recognition.”
Mandzhukova noted that each year EABA announces the start of nominations in different ways, aiming to attract new partners and use diverse communication channels to reach the widest possible audience. She expressed special gratitude to BTA for supporting and covering all EABA initiatives.
In 2025, the EABA received 20 nominations from 11 different countries. Anita Ekenova from Lyon, France won the award, which was presented to her by BTA Director General Kiril Valchev.
In 2009, Zlata of Meglen was elected the heavenly intercessor of Bulgarians abroad. The then State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, under chair Raina Mandzhukova, established the Bulgarian Woman of the Year award in the name of the saint, which was presented for the first time in 2010. Agency for Bulgarians Abroad Opens Nominations for Bulgarian Woman of the Year Award 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-01-30 11:32:09 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law