Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2026 All Rights Reserved

149 years since the death of national hero Vassil Levski

Karlovo honors the memory of the Apostle of Freedom

Holy Mass and memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday in the church “Assumption of St. Mary” in the birth town of Levski

Photo: opoznai.bg

A commemorative ceremony on the occasion of the 149th anniversary of the death of Bulgarian national hero Vassil Levski will be held on 18 February in the sub-Balkan town of Karlovo, the birthplace of the Apostle of Freedom, as he was dubbed.

On this day the town traditionally pays homage to the Apostle’s sacrifice. No less than 1,500 people - residents and guests of Karlovo – usually gather on the square, which is named after Vasil Levski.

The commemorative ceremony and the subsequent fireworks are under the patronage of the President of the National Assembly Nikola Minchev, who will deliver a speech.

Archiepiscopal Holy Mass and memorial service will be celebrated on 19 February at 9 am in the church "Assumption of the Holy Mother of God". In the the evening, at 7 pm, there will be a Commemorative assembly on the square, where people willbe laying wreaths and flowers at the monument of the Apostle.

A representative unit of the 61st Stryamska Mechanized Infanry Brigade will participate in the ceremony.

Compiled by: Gergana Mancheva

English: Elizabeth Radkova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

From palkenski dialect to standard speech – a Bulgarian language lectureship starts in Timișoara

Timișoara, a large multicultural city in western Romania, is the center of the historical community of the Banat Bulgarians . The members of this community are descendants of settlers from the Bulgarian lands nearly three centuries ago, who have..

published on 11/24/25 3:55 PM
Marian Serafimov

Marian Serafimov – a young man from Gabrovo who turns enthusiasm into change

In Gabrovo – a city in the geographical center of Bulgaria, once described as the Bulgarian Manchester, but today facing demographic challenges – there are young people who believe that the future can be better and that this largely..

published on 11/23/25 3:15 PM

Stela Nedkova and her Bulgarian corner in Brussels – a restaurant with traditional Bulgarian dishes

For 15 years, Stela Nedkova has been living in Brussels . After completing her education in Bulgaria, she decided to test herself in a different reality to see whether she could handle life’s challenges on her own, without her parents’ help. Stela faced..

published on 11/23/25 11:15 AM