As part of the 21st World Meeting of Bulgarian Media, held on October 19 and 20 in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, and the city of Esztergom, an exhibition marking Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day opened at the Istvan Barankovics office building for members of the Hungarian Parliament on Monday.
Bulgarian national community in the Hungarian Parliament advocate Szimeon Varga, Bulgarian-Hungarian Parliamentary Friendship Group Chair Andre Paloc, and Hungary’s Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of Nationalities Laura Gyeney delivered welcoming remarks at the ceremony.
“Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day has become a miracle that connects these two historic peoples, and the Bulgarian community in Hungary serves as a bridge between them,” Varga said in his address.
“The Bulgarian community living in Hungary enriches our country’s cultural life and serves as an important bridge between the two countries. Its active presence and commitment to preserving traditions strengthen this bridge day by day. Preserving and passing on our shared heritage also helps younger generations discover this rich bond,” Paloc said.
Gyeney noted that the centuries-long history of Bulgarians in Hungary reflects the story of a united, resilient and hardworking community that zealously guards its identity, language, religion and cultural traditions. She described the community as a role model not only for other national minorities but for society as a whole.
The historical and cultural ties between Bulgaria and Hungary got their official day of commemoration in 2016. On September 15, 2016, Bulgaria’s National Assembly adopted a resolution designating October 19 as Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day. The date is associated with St John of Rila, whom the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates on that day and whose story connects the two countries. The resolution provides for the day to be marked with initiatives celebrating shared history and promoting cultural and youth exchanges.
On September 27, 2016, the Hungarian Parliament also adopted a resolution recognizing October 19 as Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day. Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry highlighted the role of Szimeon Varga, the advocate of the Bulgarian national community in the Hungarian Parliament, whose initiative led to the proposal on the Hungarian side. The day thus received official recognition from the parliaments of both countries.
Bulgarski Vesti, a newspaper serving the Bulgarian community in Hungary, has covered the annual celebrations over the years. The first events were held in 2016, gradually establishing a tradition of cultural, educational and community activities in both countries. That year, a photography exhibition marking the centenary of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Hungary was presented in Budapest, while a bilingual commemorative plaque dedicated to St John of Rila was unveiled at the basilica in Esztergom.
In 2017, the celebrations were held in Bulgaria and brought together more than 150 guests from Hungary, including representatives of the Bulgarian community, students and public figures. A year later, the programme in Hungary featured the presentation of a book about Bulgarian gardeners, an exhibition dedicated to Bulgarian-Hungarian friendship, and the unveiling of a fountain in Szigetszentmiklos in memory of Bulgarian gardeners. The celebrations concluded with a commemorative ceremony in Esztergom and a festive liturgy at the Bulgarian church in Budapest.
In 2019, members of the Bulgarian community once again paid tribute to St John of Rila in Esztergom. In 2020, a monument to Metropolitan Boris of Nevrokop was unveiled in the courtyard of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Budapest.
In 2022, the day was marked in Sofia with a series of events and meetings between representatives of the Bulgarian community in Hungary and Bulgarian institutions. The programme included a visit to Rila Monastery and concluded with a gala concert at the Salza i Smyah Theatre, featuring Bulgarian ensembles and performers from both countries.
In 2023, the celebrations returned to Hungary. Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova and representatives of the Bulgarian community laid flowers at the commemorative plaque dedicated to St John of Rila in Esztergom, where the documentary photography exhibition The Heart of Bulgaria: Masterpieces from the Rila Monastery was opened. The programme continued with a festive concert at the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Budapest.
In 2024, the tradition continued with a commemorative ceremony in Esztergom, an exhibition featuring Bulgarian and Hungarian artists at the newly opened B8 Gallery in Budapest, and a concert at the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
In 2025, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his Hungarian counterpart Tamas Sulyok marked Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day in Smolyan. The programme commemorated the centenary of the birth of Hungarian poet and translator of Bulgarian poetry Laszlo Nagy, and included a visit to his house museum, an exhibition and a musical and poetry performance.
The 21st World Meeting of Bulgarian Media, organized by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), opens in Budapest on Monday, October 19. This is linked to two anniversaries marked by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in 2026: 1,080 years since the dormition of St John of Rila and 1,150 years since his presumed birth. The date also marks the 10th anniversary of the decisions by the parliaments in Sofia and Budapest declaring October 19 Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day.
This year’s meeting is mottoed “Media and Leaders”. The forum, which takes place in the Hungarian cities of Budapest and Esztergom, is expected to bring together participants from 25 countries, both in person and online.
Among them are 47 journalists from 32 Bulgarian-language media outlets and broadcasts around the world, representatives of two media associations, as well as BTA correspondents and stringers abroad. Nine representatives of five media outlets from Bulgaria have also confirmed their participation.
BTA is organizing the 21st World Meeting of Bulgarian Media with the support of DSK Bank, OTP Group, Aurubis Bulgaria, A1, SOF Connect – the operator of Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, Geotechmin, Postbank and the 13 Centuries Bulgaria National Endowment Fund.
Exhibition Marking Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day Opens as Part of 21st World Meeting of Bulgarian Media 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-19 14:59:55
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. Bulgaria news, Bulgarian news, news from Bulgaria, latest news Bulgaria, breaking news Bulgaria, Bulgaria today, Bulgarian politics, Bulgarian government. Bulgarian economy, Bulgarian business, Bulgarian society, Bulgarian culture, Bulgarian tourism, Bulgarian sports, Bulgarian media, Bulgarian parliament. Sofia news, Plovdiv news, Varna news, Burgas news, Ruse news, Stara Zagora news, Pleven news, Sliven news. Dobrich news, Shumen news, Pernik news, Haskovo news, Yambol news, Pazardzhik news, Blagoevgrad news, Veliko Tarnovo news. Vratsa news, Gabrovo news, Asenovgrad news, Vidin news, Bulgarian local news, Bulgaria current affairs, Bulgaria breaking news, Bulgaria headlines. Balkan news, Southeast Europe news, Bulgarian international news, Bulgaria world news, Bulgarian elections, Bulgaria events, Bulgaria analysis, Bulgaria updates.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.
BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-19 14:59:55
Leave a Comment