On February 7, Bulgaria pay homage to the deed of prominent Bulgarian revolutionary Petko Voivode who fought against the Ottomans in the Rhodopes and Aegean Thrace. The voivode participated at the Russo-Turkish War of 1878 as part of a detachment of rebels. After Bulgaria’s liberation, Petko Voivode received order for bravery from Russian Emperor Alexander ІІ.
Born in the village of Doganhisar, in Aegean Thrace, Petko Kirkov became a haiduk in his early youth and organized a detachment of Bulgarians, Greeks and even Turks who were rebelling against the Ottoman oppressor. He participated actively in Bulgaria's War of Liberation.
He has remained in Bulgarian history as a brave guardian and protector of the poor and oppressed.
In the autumn of 1864, he was summoned by the Greeks to take part in their struggle against Turkey. Then he left for Macedonia where he participated in the organization of revolutionary activities and then left for Italy. In early 1866, he met with Guiseppe Garibaldi and stayed at his home. Both organized the famous "Garibaldi Battalion" which fought in the Cretan Revolution.
The big patriot and fighter for freedom of all Balkan nations died on February 1, 1900 in Varna
Today, descendants of Bulgarians from the Thrace region from two organizations - the independent Thracian association "Dogan Hisar" and the Georgi Sapunarov Thracian association paid homage to the revolutionary and put wreaths and flowers at his monument in the town of Haskovo.
After Cheesefare (Forgiveness) Sunday, the Great Lent has begun on March 3. Orthodox Christians will abstain from eating animal food including meat, eggs, milk and dairy products. The Great Lent symbolizes the 40 days which Jesus spent in the..
Batak is a name every Bulgarian remembers with deference and pain because the fate of the small town in the Rhodopes is scarred by one of the bloodiest events in national memory – the Batak massacre. During the first days after the outbreak of..
There is a map which helped usher in the birth of modern Bulgaria during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The Austro-Hungarian researcher Felix Kanitz (1829 – 1904) was the first West European to have travelled to more than 3,200 towns and villages..
Today is Cheesefare Sunday. According to Orthodox tradition, this day is observed on the eve of Great Lent, when Christians seek and give forgiveness to..
On 3 March, Bulgaria celebrates the 147th anniversary of its liberation f rom five centuries of Ottoman rule. The day was declared a national holiday in..
Batak is a name every Bulgarian remembers with deference and pain because the fate of the small town in the Rhodopes is scarred by one of the bloodiest..
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