The head of state opened an exhibition dedicated to the Glagolitic language in the Jagiellonian Library in Krakow
“Bulgarians, as the direct heirs of the work of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, proclaimed by Pope John Paul II as co-patrons of Europe, are obliged to preserve and develop this heritage. We value highly that we are together with Poland in this noble mission.” President Rumen Radev at the opening of the “Stories from Glagolitic Times” exhibition at the Jagiellonian Library in the Polish city of Krakow, the press office announced.
Noting the deep historical and cultural ties between Bulgaria and Poland, the head of state thanked the Polish researchers for their contribution to the popularization of Bulgaria’s role in the formation of Slavic culture and world cultural heritage.
The exposition was prepared by the team of Associate Professor Dr. Yavor Miltenov from the Bulgarian Language Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and presents little-known facts about the oldest alphabet of the Slavs and the role of Bulgaria in preserving it.
For the first time, valuable original manuscripts in Glagolitic and Cyrillic, which are in the Jagiellonian Library, are also being shown. The opening of the exhibition in the library of the oldest Polish university, the Jagiellonian University, was attended by its director, Prof. Remigwisz Sapa, and the rector of the university, Prof. Piotr Jedenak. The opening gathered in the Jagiellonian Library students of Bulgarian studies, representatives of the Bulgarian community, scientists from the Institute of Slavic Philology at the Jagiellonian University.
Thanks to its written word more than a millennium ago, Bulgaria took the path of spirituality and established itself as one of the cultural centers of Europe, said Rumen Radev in his welcome. The head of state pointed out that this year marks the 1161st anniversary of the creation of the Glagolitic language, which, together with the Cyrillic alphabet, is deeply inscribed in the cultural development and spirituality of the Bulgarian people and country and has an indisputable contribution to the development of the Slavic cultural space.
“We have a duty to continue developing this wealth,” said the head of state, highlighting the role of the students of Bulgarian studies in Krakow. According to the president, the deepening of economic contacts between Bulgaria and Poland will also contribute to increasing the interest of the youth of both countries in the culture of their countries.
“This exhibition gives us the opportunity to show how important Bulgaria’s place is as a country where extremely valuable monuments of culture and writing were created,” said the director of the Jagiellonian Library, Prof. Remiguish Sapa. Rector Piotr Jedinak noted during the opening of the exhibition, that at the Jagiellonian University Slavic studies is about 200 years old, and Bulgarian studies about 100 years old, and it has been taught as a separate science and specialty for 80 years.
During a meeting of the Bulgarian president with the management of the university and the library, which took place before the opening, the intensive scientific exchange between Bulgaria and Poland was discussed, as well as the prospects for the development of future partnerships.
Earlier in the day, the head of state Rumen Radev awarded the honorary consul of Bulgaria in Krakow Vieslav Novak with a presidential badge for his support for the spread of the Bulgarian language and culture and his overall contribution to the development of bilateral relations. Among the initiatives supported by the honorary consul is the opening of the branch of the Bulgarian Sunday school “Dora Gabe” in Krakow.
The premises provided free of charge by Vieslav Novak for the school is also the main meeting place of the Bulgarian diaspora in the entire region. As Honorary Consul of Bulgaria, Novak implemented a number of activities to popularize the Bulgarian language and culture in Poland, as well as to promote bilateral economic cooperation between Bulgaria and Poland.
Vieslav Novak hosted a meeting that President Radev held with the honorary consuls of Bulgaria in Poland. During the conversation, the prospects for joint activities between Poland and Bulgaria were discussed. In addition to the Honorary Consul in Krakow, Honorary Consuls Witold Karczewski (based in the city of Bialystok), Janusz Zaton (based in Katowice) and Jan Stravinski (based in the city of Gdańsk) also participated.
President Rumen Radev highly appreciated the commitment and dedication of our honorary consuls in Poland, whose activities make an important contribution to the implementation of projects in the fields of economy, education, culture, tourism, regional cooperation, as well as to the overall development of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Poland .