Balgarianovinite.com In a speech during the observances of 150 years since the April Uprising here on Friday, President Iliana Iotova said that Panagyurishte is not just the freedom-loving heart of the Bulgarian revolution but also the capital of rebellious Bulgaria. The day’s celebrations culminated in a ceremonial tattoo at 20 April Square in Panagyurishte.
The event was also attended by National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotsova, Panagyurishte Mayor Zhelyazko Gagov, Panagyurishte Municipal Council Chairman Ivan Lalov, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, representatives of local authorities, and members of Parliament.
Iotova also said that every Bulgarian city cherishes in its heart the ancient history of the beloved homeland – “cities that have become symbols of the long-suffering and immortal Bulgarian cause, cities that have forever linked their names to the most important, the most decisive moments in our shared destiny.” Among them is Panagyurishte, she added.
In her words, only those who have never come into contact with the people of Panagyurishte do not know with what great reverence, with how highly raised heads they preserve the memory of the April Uprising – the days of rapture, of freedom, of conscious self-sacrifice. “This is the Bulgarian April Uprising – a dream of freedom, of a homeland, of a state, of equality, of independence. It was precisely in these streets and squares of Panagyurishte in 1876 that the voice of the Bulgarian revival rang out loud and clear. Of the revived tradition of the Bulgarian state,” she added.
“A new horizon dawned, a horizon of a new era; the world once again made history, once again opened its pages to the Bulgarian people, and there, boldly, with the power of light, entered the fiery Benkovski, the noble Volov, the enlightened Bobekov, the fearless Rayna,” Iotova went on to say, referring to key figures in the April Uprising. “At first glance, you might ask what connects these people, as if they were different characters, having nothing in common with one another, but that is not so – Bulgaria connects them; belonging to one people, to one idea of freedom connects them; the pure impulse of the suffering Bulgarian heart, which scorned death to bestow freedom upon others, connects them,” the President added.
“Today, there is no way we can list the names of all the heroes, of all the ordinary people who were part of the Bulgarian people’s struggle; there is no way we can describe all the facts, all the events; there is no way we can find the strongest words to express the tragedy and the grandeur. But today, we know and recognize the image of the burned-to-the-ground Panagyurishte – homes, schools, and churches – reduced to ashes so that a new Panagyurishte could be born, even bolder, even stronger, and even more patriotic,” Iotova said further.
Addressing those in the square, the President said that in the coming months, they will hear many words of praise for the heroes, but these months and weeks, when such an anniversary occurs, are a time for reflection. “Let us try to look through the eyes of our ancestors; let us run our fingers through the fabric of time – at once terrifying and majestic – and let us stand side by side with their images and measure ourselves against them, and see and feel the other beside us, and know that together we can better understand ourselves, but also understand others. Then, together, we will move forward to honour our beloved homeland,” Iotova concluded. President Iotova: Panagyurishte Is Capital of Rebellious Bulgaria 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-01 19:01:00 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