Bulgarian Culture Week began in Odesa on Tuesday. The opening event was an exhibition by Ivan and Zlata Shyshman, a father-daughter duo and contemporary Bulgarian artists in Ukraine. The exhibition marks the start of a rich week-long programme, which includes musical events, literary meetings, and a major celebratory concert featuring Bulgarian folk singer and composer Iliya Lukov.
The Bulgarian-Ukrainian international cultural event was opened by Odesa acting Mayor Ihor Koval, who congratulated the Bulgarian people on the upcoming holidays and thanked them for supporting Odesa during the full-scale invasion, expressing hope for further strengthening of Bulgarian-Ukrainian ties.
“Odesa remains a centre of cultural diplomacy between Ukraine and Bulgaria. Art festivals, academic conferences, and cultural exchanges demonstrate the dynamism and depth of our neighbourly relations,” Koval noted.
“The cultural ties between Odesa and Bulgaria have deep historical roots. It was in Odesa that Bulgarian educational organisations operated, publications were issued, and an intellectual environment was formed that helped preserve the identity of the Bulgarian community and develop intercultural dialogue. Today, the Bulgarian community in Odesa actively maintains its language, traditions, and participates in the city’s public life,” Koval added.
“I am extremely pleased that today we are opening the first event of Bulgarian Culture Week with the exhibition of Ivan and Zlata Shyshman at the City Hall. I would like to thank Koval and the entire team working in the field of culture and the arts that, despite the war, this event is taking place,” said Bulgarian Consul General in Odesa Svetoslav Ivanov in his address.
“Bulgaria condemns this aggression and supports Ukraine in its Euro-Atlantic orientation within its internationally recognized borders. Bulgaria provides not only political, humanitarian, and financial assistance but also helps strengthen Ukraine’s mobilization capabilities,” Ivanov emphasized.
“Despite the war and hardships, we continue to work and hope that this war will end soon. Bulgaria wishes you a swift return of peace and prosperity,” the diplomat added.
Ivanov said Bulgarian Culture Week includes events and meetings dedicated to prominent Bulgarian Revival figures and writers Hristo Botev and Ivan Vazov, whose lives were linked to Odesa, as well as festive concerts by Iliya Lukov in Bolhrad, Vaysal, and Odesa.
He emphasized that the event coincides with the Day of Bessarabian Bulgarians, who serve as a bridge and guarantee for the excellent relations between Bulgaria and Ukraine.
“At the very opening of the exhibition, I felt in the spirit of the people – as was shared in conversations – that our Consulate works very actively and seriously. Before the war, things were different. For me, it is a great honour – we work in a reduced capacity but actively, trying to remain close to the people. The war continues, we live in difficult times, but our motto is that we are stronger when united,” Ivanov summarized.
In a gesture of gratitude for the support of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, a congratulatory address was presented by him.
Greetings to the organizers and guests of the cultural event were also delivered by Anton Kisse, MP in Ukraine and President of the Association of Bulgarians in Ukraine, who highlighted the significant contributions of Ivan Shyshman in promoting Bulgarian art culture in Ukraine. “We have organized many exhibitions, both here in our country and in Bulgaria and Moldova. We will continue to work in this direction,” Kisse stated.
The event featured representatives of Bulgarian cultural and educational organizations from Odesa and the region.
Bulgarian Culture Week in Odesa, dedicated to the Day of the Bessarabian Bulgarians, began on October 27 and will continue until November 1 in Odesa and the surrounding region. Organizers of the multicultural international event include the Department for International Cooperation, Culture, and Marketing of the Odesa City Council, the Bulgarian Consulate-General in Odesa, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), and the Odesa City Musical Theatre.
Bulgarian Culture Week Opens in Odesa THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-10-27 19:51:38 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
