On Tuesday, Bulgaria celebrated the 137th anniversary of the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke. On March 3 (February 19, old style), the Treaty of San Stefano was signed between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, as a result of which Bulgaria gained independence. This day is a national holiday in Bulgaria and the event is widely celebrated throughout the country. The Russian representative was not invited to the celebrations, which provoked a large-scale discussion in Bulgarian society.

RIA News. Lithograph from 1877 "Battle of Shipka on December 28, 1877 during the Russian-Turkish War"

The celebration of the 137th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano took place in Bulgaria without Russian officials. “Neither the Administration of the President of Bulgaria, nor the ministerial council, nor the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited Russian politicians to official events,” comments the Bulgarian publication Blitz.

March 3 is a national holiday in Bulgaria, and events dedicated to the Liberation from the Ottoman yoke were held in every city in the country, Vesti.bg reports. Bulgarian Patriarch Neophytos served a memorial service and a thanksgiving prayer service in the Sofia Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky.

RIA News. Temple of Alexander Nevsky in Sofia, built in the 19th century in honor of Russian soldiers who died in battles for the liberation of the Bulgarian people from the Turkish yoke. 1985

An official ceremony of raising the Bulgarian flag and laying a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier took place on Alexander Nevsky Square in Sofia with the participation of President Rosen Plevneliev.

RIA News. Monument to the Russian Tsar-Liberator Alexander II in the center of Sofia. year 2012

A large-scale procession with a 300-meter Bulgarian flag took place in Stara Zagora, where during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. There were fierce battles. The ceremonial events took place at the Freedom Monument on Shipka, which was erected in honor of those who fell in the battles for the defense of this pass during the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The events were attended by deputies of the Bulgarian parliament, city mayors, representatives of diplomatic missions and non-governmental organizations, ordinary citizens, soldiers of the honor guard company and a military band (about 150 military personnel in total). Wreaths were laid at the freedom monument with military honors. Similar events are held on Shipka every year, and in 2003 Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in them.

The fact that Russian officials were not invited to the celebration of Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman yoke as a result of the Russo-Turkish War caused outrage among Bulgarian social media users.

They write angry posts, post photoshopped photos of President Rosen Plevneliev, in which he decides to celebrate without Russia under US pressure, and even write poems in gratitude to the “Russian brothers” for their help in gaining independence.

“The Poles did not invite Russia to events regarding the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army, which is why the Israeli Prime Minister did not come to Poland - as a sign of solidarity with the Russian president. Today, our Euro-Atlantic authorities do not invite official Russian representatives to celebrate our Liberation from Ottoman slavery through Russian-Turkish war,” notes historian, associate professor at Sofia University named after St. Kliment Ohridski Darina Grigorov on your Facebook page.

“The increased emphasis on the role of Ukrainian, Romanian and Finnish soldiers who fought for our Liberation is noteworthy. They are presented as almost equal to the Russians, who made up 90% of those who fought. Moreover, Ukrainian troops are inseparable from Russian ones when we talk about the period when the Ukrainian "the nation did not exist. Political correctness does not yet allow us to deny March 3rd, but there have been attempts to manipulate some of its details," writes Dobri Bozhilov, who became famous in his homeland for his open letters to the authorities. “Yesterday, in addition to Sofia and Shipka, there were large-scale celebrations in Stara Zagora. Such mass events, which are mainly an expression of Russophilia (March 3 cannot but be a Russophile holiday), during the mass media and government occupation by anti-Russian and foreign puppets, promise social clashes ", adds Bozhilov.

The fact that the decision not to invite Russian officials to the celebration belongs not to the Bulgarian authorities themselves, but to their American partners, social media users publish photoshopped.
For example:

The US Ambassador to Bulgaria, addressing President Rosen Plevneliev, says: “Rosen, we forbid you to invite Russians to March 3!” “Okay, boss,” Plevneliev replies.

Another photoshop on the topic of attempts to distort history (look for Vladimir Putin):

"1878, liberation of Bulgaria from the Turkish presence by US, EU, NATO troops."

There are these pictures:

"Russian aggressors and Bulgarian separatists in battle with the legitimate Ottoman authorities."

Last weekend, celebrations dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the end of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 took place in Bulgaria.

This date, historical in every sense for Bulgarians, was celebrated in the country at the highest state level: the country's President Rumen Radev, as well as diplomats and politicians from a number of countries took part in the festive events.

Probably, the presence of many high-ranking foreign guests can explain the excessive political correctness inherent in the official part of the celebrations: in his speech during the evening roll call, the head of state avoided unnecessary words in one way or another connected with Russia, separately expressing gratitude to all the peoples who fought for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke. Although a few hours earlier, during commemorative events on Shipka, where Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' performed a festive service together with Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev noted quite clearly:

“We gathered at the top to bow to the heroes of Bulgarian freedom and honor our common past. There are many bones lying in the ground under the snow here. After 140 years, it is difficult to say which of them are Bulgarian and which are Russian, but it was from these bones, from Russian and Bulgarian military glory, that the frame of our Bulgarian freedom was built.”

To understand what role the Russian army played in the liberation of Bulgaria from the five-century Ottoman yoke, you do not need to study monographs and history textbooks. Almost every second street in the center of Sofia bears the names of Russian generals and rulers, and on the main square of the capital there is a monument to Emperor Alexander II. On the pedestal of the monument it is written in gold letters: “Bulgaria is grateful to the Tsar the Liberator.”

Directly opposite this monument, an evening roll call took place - a ceremonial formation of troops, during which the president of the country was informed: “All combat personnel are in place, with the exception of those who fell on the battlefield.” Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers died on the battlefields of that war. They fought shoulder to shoulder with the Bulgarian militias. But still, it was the Russian army that constituted the main striking force that put the Turks to flight. In March 1878, the troops of the Russian Imperial Army stood on the very threshold of Constantinople. Not far from the city, in the town of San Stefano, a peace treaty was signed, ending the war and returning Bulgaria to the map of Europe after centuries of oblivion.

“In addition to the creation of independent principalities - Romania, Serbia and Montenegro - and significant territorial additions to them, the creation of Greater Bulgaria with access to the Black and Aegean Seas was envisaged. The prospect of renewed hostilities forced the Turks to come to terms, they accepted the vast majority of the terms of the treaty. On February 19 (March 3 - new style), representatives of Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed the San Stefano Preliminary Peace Treaty,”

The director of the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician, noted Yuri Petrov during a scientific conference dedicated to the history of the Russian-Turkish War.

The terms of this agreement, so beneficial both for Bulgaria itself and for Russia, predictably did not suit Western European countries, primarily Great Britain and Austria, who feared the strengthening of the Russian Empire in the region and forced the parties to reconsider the agreement. Ultimately, as a result of the war, another document was signed - the Berlin Treaty, which divided Bulgaria into three parts, which in fact still depended on Turkey.

“Thanks to the military efforts of the Russian Empire, Bulgaria became a free power. I want to emphasize that this act of freedom cost the lives of more than 30 thousand Russian soldiers and thousands of Bulgarian militias. As a result of the war, the Treaty of San Stefano was signed, which became one ideal agreement that united the Bulgarian lands into one state. But, unfortunately, it was not fully implemented. Although the main thing was done - Bulgaria was liberated 140 years ago. Thanks to Russia and its soldiers, it became a free state,”

Said the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria Krasimir Karakachanov at the ceremony of handing over copies of the battle flags of the battalions of the Russian Imperial Army that participated in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878.

These banners it was solemnly presented to the Bulgarian armed forces by the delegation of the Russian Historical Society, which arrived in Sofia for the official celebrations dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria. The ceremony took place within the walls of the Georgiy Rakovsky Military Academy, which, by the way, the current president of the country, Rumen Radev, graduated from.

“One of the banners, copies of which we are handing over, is kept in Crimea in the Museum of Taurida. And it is no coincidence that there are two inscriptions side by side: “For Shipka” and “For Sevastopol,” because this battalion distinguished itself during the Crimean War. The second banner is kept in the Military Historical Museum of Artillery in St. Petersburg. As a sign of the friendship of our peoples, as a sign that we remember what happened 140 years ago on Bulgarian soil, we hand over these banners to the Bulgarian armed forces,”

Said, in turn, the executive director of the History of the Fatherland Foundation.

If you delve a little deeper into history, you can hardly call the relations between our countries cloudless. From a geopolitical point of view, Bulgaria was often on the other side of the barricades. Suffice it to remember that in two world wars she fought on the side of Germany. But here it is appropriate to recall one interesting historical fact: after the attack on the USSR in June 1941, Hitler repeatedly demanded that the Bulgarian Tsar Boris III send troops to the Eastern Front. However, the Tsar shied away from fulfilling this demand, fearing the growth of pro-Russian sentiment, and Bulgaria actually did not participate in Germany’s war against the Soviet Union. There is an assumption that this position cost Boris III his life.

“Hitler called Boris because he needed the German army to transit in order to go north and seize the oil fields. And then go from there to Bessarabia. Despite the fact that Boris was a German prince by blood, he could not do this as the king of Bulgaria and refused. Back then we flew in Messerschmitts, and in the cockpits we had to wear gas masks. And they put poisonous gas in this mask. Some time after this, Boris died,”

The prince told Nikita Dmitrievich Lobanov-Rostovsky, familiar with representatives of the Bulgarian royal dynasty.

However, during a visit to the Vrana Palace - the residence of the Bulgarian kings, the heir to the throne of Boris III, his son Simeon of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, who personally conducted a tour of the chambers, delicately noted that the cause of his father’s death had never been officially established. Among the unique exhibits that Simeon II presented to guests from Russia is a dining room made of Karelian birch, presented to Tsar Boris by Nicholas II, who became his godfather in 1896, when the Saxe-Coburg Gotha family converted to Orthodoxy.

The fact that the further from the official program of celebrations, the more obvious the connection between Russia and Bulgaria, one could judge at the opening of the exhibition at the National Historical Museum of Bulgaria, dedicated to the Russian-Turkish war. On the first day alone, the exhibition was visited by several thousand people. The exhibition features weapons and uniforms of the Russian army, as well as rare archival documents and photographs.

“We in Russia always carefully preserve the memory of those events. Undoubtedly, in 1877-1878 the Russian Empire pursued its own national interests. But these national interests coincided very closely with the national interests of the Balkan peoples, and above all the Bulgarian people, who were awaiting their liberation from the centuries-old Ottoman yoke. This war was supported not only by Russian government forces. First of all, it was supported by millions of Russian people who participated in the liberation struggle of the Bulgarian people during the uprising, who directly participated in the hostilities, who participated in fundraising by those numerous national committees that supported the fraternal Balkan peoples,”

Addressing museum visitors, the director of the State Historical Museum said Alexey Levykin.

In the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Sofia Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill and Patriarch of Bulgaria Neophyte served festive liturgy- as a symbol of the unity of two peoples.

The temple-monument was erected in 1912 in honor of the liberation of Bulgaria and dedicated to the Russian saint - Prince Alexander Nevsky. This is one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in the Balkans and, perhaps, the main attraction of the Bulgarian capital. But this does not prevent the temple from being in a deplorable state: on the frescoes by Vasnetsov, smudges are visible to the naked eye. The state has been promising to allocate money for restoration for several years now. And this is also a symbol, but of a completely different kind.

Text: Anna Khrustaleva

There is one particularly memorable date in the history of the Slavic state of Bulgaria - March 3. It was on this day, in 1878, that the Russian-Turkish War ended, which became a liberation war for the people of Bulgaria. Captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1396, Bulgaria was under Turkish rule for many centuries and languished in captivity. But they did not have enough strength to throw off Ottoman oppression on their own. Europe did not help either, constantly calling on Turkey to guarantee Christians living in the Ottoman Empire the same rights as Muslims. The Turks verbally assured that no one was oppressing Christians, but in reality it turned out completely differently. Exhausted by constant oppression, the Bulgarians raised an uprising in 1876, which was brutally suppressed by the Turkish army. As a result of punitive measures, more than 30,000 Bulgarians died, among whom were women, old people and children.

The brutal suppression of the April uprising was the last straw - in 1877 Russia started a war with Turkey. Indignant at the killing of civilians The Old World, and especially Great Britain, never entered the war. Bulgarian, Armenian and Georgian militias fought and died on the side of the Russian Empire. Serbian, Romanian and Montenegrin troops took an active part in the hostilities. The victory of the Russian army was swift and unconditional. Most of the territories forcibly annexed to the Ottoman Empire were liberated. Bulgaria became free for the first time in many centuries. Thanks to Russia...

Let me explain the need for another excursion into recent history, which I, in light of recent events, was forced to give you. More recently, the Bulgarians celebrated the anniversary of liberation from the Turkish yoke. The holiday is far from new for the country. I was surprised by the new approach of the Bulgarian leadership to covering the memorable date. The President of Bulgaria, speaking with a celebratory speech, forgot to say that the country celebrates the day of liberation from the Turkish yoke and did not mention the main author of this holiday - Russia. Moreover, those responsible for the celebration are the Ministerial Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs forgot to invite guests from Russia, the country of the liberator! The Prime Minister of the country did not mention Russia and its role in the liberation of Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian authorities and political elite paid special attention to the holiday message written by John Kerry and solemnly read out to the Bulgarian people. John Kerry, who, like all Americans, is a representative of a great nation, has the right to be stupid, unfortunately he also does not know the history of this holiday. Kerry greatly rejuvenated the holiday by declaring that he was only 25 years old. In his message, John noted “the progress that Bulgaria has made since the declaration of independence and the victory of democracy more than two decades ago.” About the Russian-Turkish war and the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke Kerry did not mention it, most likely for the banal reason of ignorance of this part of the story. All this, of course, Kerry wrote on behalf of President Obama. In conclusion, as usual, he hinted at the need to expand cooperation in the field of security and defense. Americans are boring, stupid and predictable...

In 2014, the Bulgarian government already played along with its strategic partner, the United States, by starting to blackmail Russia, which at that moment was pulling the next section of the South Stream gas pipeline through the country. By flexing their muscles, the Bulgarian father-commanders twice with their strong-willed decisions suspended the construction of the gas pipeline. Result - On December 1, 2014, Vladimir Putin announced the winding down of the South Stream project. Not only ordinary Bulgarians and local entrepreneurs were shocked, but also the Bulgarian government itself, which did not expect such treachery from Russia!

Currently, with their stupid antics, Bulgarian officials and their overseas patrons have achieved one thing - Bulgarians are beginning to organize themselves and show their civic position. So, on March 3, 2015, on the day of celebration of liberation from the Ottoman yoke, non-governmental actions were held in the country, the main slogan of which was “Thank you Russia, we remember history!” . One of the parties in the Bulgarian parliament, the Ataka political party, organized a National March on March 3, which was attended by tens of thousands of ordinary citizens, representatives of public and patriotic organizations and representatives of other left-wing parties. Guests from Russia were invited to the procession. Deputies Anatoly Karpov and Roman Khudyakov were present from the Russian State Duma. Greetings from Sergei Naryshkin and the leadership of the LDPR party were read out.

This is yet another of the already numerous examples of rape in world history, in which the United States has been so successful. By methodically driving into the minds of young Bulgarians lies about the root causes of celebrating Independence Day, they hope that in a few decades they will forget about Turkish aggression and the role of Russia in the liberation of Bulgaria. It is by using this method for more than twenty years they have distorted the worldview of the inhabitants of Ukraine, thus dividing the once united people into Russians And Ukrainians. What came out of this we have the opportunity to observe with our own eyes - the war in Donbass is broadcast on all television channels and sometimes amazes with its cruelty and senselessness.

No matter what the Americans do, no matter how they try to split the world and set most countries against Russia, we must remember - whoever does not remember his past has no future! I am sincerely grateful to those Bulgarians who, not following the lead of official propaganda, on this day, March 3, took to the streets of Sofia and celebrated “National holiday March 3, the Day of the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke, a day of thanksgiving for fraternal Russia.” This is the act of people who remember their roots, who will not allow their history to be rewritten and themselves to be drawn into a new political adventure. In unity there is strength and victory!

P.S. For the sake of objectivity, I would like to add, Americans also took part in the Russian-Turkish War, truth indirectly. Exactly The Turkish army was armed with the latest American rifles, which in turn caused a lot of trouble for the Russian troops. It is from this weapon, produced in US factories, today's ally of Bulgaria, in 1876, local residents who rebelled against the Ottoman yoke were killed...

Alexey Zotyev

Do you see this “shoe” written in Arabic script? Second half of the 14th century. Soon almost all of Europe will be under this boot. This is the autograph of a man who can easily be called a barbarian, a vandal, a monster, but is unlikely to be called a scoundrel or an illiterate nomad. No matter how sad it is for the peoples enslaved by this conqueror, Orhan is considered the second of the three founders of the Ottoman Empire, under him the small Turkic tribe finally turned into a strong state with a modern army.
If anyone today doubts that Bulgaria did not give a worthy rebuff to the occupier, they are greatly mistaken. This figure was very educated, well-read, smart and, as befits a traditionally far-sighted, cunning politician of the Eastern style - a wise villain. That's who conquered Bulgaria. It is not possible to accuse the then Bulgarian rulers and people of negligence and weakness, given this balance of power and historical unfavorable circumstances, of frivolously falling under the yoke. History has no subjunctive mood, so what happened, happened.

Here is a rough chronology of events
Sultan Orhan (1324 - 1359) became the ruler of the entire northwestern part of Anatolia: from the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles to the Black Sea and the Bosphorus. He managed to gain a foothold in continental Europe. In 1352, the Turks crossed the Dardanelles and took the fortress of Tsimpe, and in 1354 they captured the entire Gallipoli Peninsula. In 1359, the Ottomans made an unsuccessful attempt to storm Constantinople.
In 1359, Orhan's son, Murad I (1359–1389), came to power in the Ottoman state, who, having strengthened his dominance in Asia Minor, began to conquer Europe.
In 1362, the Turks defeated the Byzantines on the outskirts of Andrianople and captured the city. Murad I moved the capital of the newly formed Ottoman state to Andrianople in 1365, renaming it Edirne.
In 1362, the rich Bulgarian city of Plovdiv (Philippopolis) came under the rule of the Turks, and two years later the Bulgarian Tsar Shishman was forced to recognize himself as a tributary of the Sultan and give his sister to his harem. After these victories, a stream of Turkic settlers poured from Asia to Europe.
Byzantium turned into a city-state cut off from the outside world without any dependent territories, and also deprived of its previous sources of income and food. In 1373, the Byzantine Emperor John V recognized himself as a vassal of Murad I. The Emperor was forced to sign a humiliating treaty with the Turks, according to which he refused to make up for the losses suffered in Thrace, and to provide assistance to the Serbs and Bulgarians in resisting the Ottoman conquest, and he was also obliged to provide assistance to the Ottomans support in the fight against their rivals in Asia Minor.
Continuing their expansion in the Balkans, the Turks attacked Serbia in 1382 and took the Tsatelitsa fortress, and in 1385 they conquered the Bulgarian city of Serdika (Sofia).
In 1389, a Turkish army under the command of Murad I and his son Bayezid defeated a coalition of Serbian and Bosnian rulers at the Battle of Kosovo. Before the battle on the Kosovo field, Murad I was mortally wounded by the Serbian prince and soon died; power in the Ottoman state passed to his son Bayezid I (1389-1402). After the victory over the Serbian army, many Serbian commanders were killed on the Kosovo field in front of the dying Murad I.
In 1393, the Ottomans captured Macedonia, then the Bulgarian capital Tarnovo. In 1395, Bulgaria was completely conquered by the Ottomans and became part of the Ottoman state. Bulgaria became a transit interest of the Ottomans. Next in line was Constantinople, the citadel of the Byzantine Empire. That's the whole story of how Bulgaria came under the Turkish-Ottoman yoke. The yoke that existed before the liberation of Bulgaria by Russian Tsar Alexander II.

JANUARY 5 – LIBERATION OF THE CAPITAL OF BULGARIA FROM THE TURKS
Notice, by chance, on Easter Eve?
At the end of November 1877, the victory of the Russian army in the Battle of Plevna marked the beginning of the liberation of Bulgaria. A month later, in the brutal winter of 1878, Russian troops under the command of General Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko made a difficult trek through the snow-covered Balkan Mountains. Later, historians compared this campaign of the Russian army with the campaigns of Hannibal and Suvorov, while some added that it was easier for Hannibal, because he did not have artillery.
During bloody battles with the Turkish units of Shukri Pasha, Russian troops liberated Sofia. On January 4, the Kuban Cossacks from the hundred yasaul Tishchenko threw down the Turkish banner from the council. On January 5, all of Sofia was occupied, and the Turkish troops remaining there hastily retreated to the south. As historians write, Russian troops were greeted by the local population on the outskirts of the city with music and flowers. Prince Alexander Dondukov - Korsukov reported to Emperor Alexander II: “The genuine feelings of the Bulgarians towards Russia and the Russian troops are touching.”
And General Gurko noted in the order for the troops: “The capture of Sofia ended the brilliant period of the current war - the transition through the Balkans, in which you don’t know what else to be surprised at: your courage, your heroism in battles with the enemy, or the endurance and patience with which you endured difficult adversity in the fight against mountains, cold and deep snow... Years will pass, and our descendants, who visit these harsh mountains, will solemnly and proudly say: the Russian army passed here, resurrecting the glory of Suvorov and Rumyantsev’s miracle heroes.”
Then the townspeople decided that this January day would become an annual national holiday. Over the years, the decision was forgotten, but in 2005 the Sofia City Hall decided to revive the former tradition in connection with the 125th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke.

Ottoman yoke
The Ottoman yoke lasted almost five hundred years. As a result of the successful Russian-Turkish wars and the uprising of the Bulgarian people, this rule was overthrown in 1878. The yoke is a yoke, but still the country did not freeze, it lived, developed, but not, of course, in the same way as a sovereign state lives and develops.
However, was there, in fact, a yoke or was it a natural movement of history? From the point of view of faith, perhaps, it was precisely the yoke, however, even under the Turks, there were monasteries in Bulgaria. They, of course, did not dominate culturally, but the rulers of Istanbul did not completely ban Christianity, although Christians were still oppressed. For example, every fifth male child in a Bulgarian family joined the army and became a Janissary.
Also, Ottoman rule put an end to the development of Christian temple architecture. Few churches were built, and the few temples erected in the country during this period were small and insignificant. But luxurious mosques were built throughout the country, mainly in the traditional Ottoman style, the characteristic feature of which is a large dome over the prayer hall and an elegant pointed minaret. In parallel, there was a campaign of seizure of fertile lands in favor of Turkish colonists and the Islamization of the population.
On the other hand, Bulgaria lived quite calmly as the “rear” of the Ottoman Empire. Despite the religious and economic pressure, Slavs, Greeks and Armenians lived quite harmoniously there. Over time, the Turks associated themselves less and less with the Turks, and more and more with the Ottomans. As, indeed, are national minorities. More or less, some kind of comparative stability reigned in occupied Bulgaria in the 17th-18th centuries.
During the period of Ottoman rule, Bulgarian cities acquired “oriental” features: in addition to mosques, Turkish baths and shopping arcades appeared in them. Ottoman architecture also influenced the appearance of residential buildings. Thus, thanks to her, an attic, an open veranda and a “minder”, a wooden elevation - a couch on the veranda, so characteristic of Bulgarian residential buildings, appeared.
Since ancient times, Bulgaria and Russia have been connected by common Slavic origins, a common religion and writing, as well as many other factors. And it is not surprising that the eyes of the Bulgarians, who for centuries dreamed of liberation from Turkish rule, were turned to fraternal Orthodox Russia. Moreover, the Sultan established a political balance with the West, and had constant friction only with Russia. In addition, the Ottoman Empire was noticeably weakening, and in 1810 Russian troops appeared in Bulgaria for the first time. In 1828-1829 they went further and stayed longer. The era of five centuries of shame of slavery was ending.
Here are three historical figures of these events:

Captor and liberator with his wife. Maria Alexandrovna is the wife of the Russian Emperor Alexander II. “Emperor Alexander II was a sensitive person, he knew and loved the Bulgarians, and was interested in their past and present. But I was afraid of the Crimean syndrome,” noted Prof. Todev. Prince Gorchakov, chancellor and minister of foreign affairs, had great influence in determining Russian policy. He was for a peaceful solution, for conferences, for actions within the framework of the “European concert”. But the queen, for example, was categorically “in favor of waging war”!!! First ladies are sometimes more decisive and far-sighted than their spouses. Maybe it would be more correct to mention the Tsar-Liberator and the Queen-Liberator? It will be more honest!

Shipka
There have been, are and will be wars in the history of mankind. War is like a book. There is a title, a prologue, a narrative and an epilogue. But in these books there are pages without which the essence of war, this bloodshed, becomes somehow irrational, insufficient for understanding. These pages are about the culmination of the war. All wars have their own pages about the main, decisive battle. There is such a page in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. This is the Battle of Shipka Pass.

The Thracians inhabited this place in ancient times. Many archaeological remains (tombs, weapons, armor, coins) of that period were found in the vicinity of the towns of Shipka and Kazanlak. In the 1st century BC e. the city was conquered by the Romans. When the Turks captured Bulgaria in 1396, they created a garrison in the city of Shipka to guard and control the Shipka Pass. In the vicinity of Shipka and Sheinovo, some of the bloodiest battles were fought in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 (defense of Shipka in the war for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke). The Freedom Monument on Mount Shipka (Stoletov Peak) is dedicated to the memory of the fallen. This is how a locality, having existed for millennia, by the will of history, suddenly becomes not a locality, but a symbol of courage, spirit, and determination. Unfortunately, such glory comes to an area only after it has absorbed the sea of ​​blood of a reasonable person. But as they say - “in war, like in war.”

P.S.
Bulgaria is a small, picturesque Balkan state with a population of nearly eight million and a tragic history. Bulgarians still dream about the ancient Bulgarian kingdom, which once reigned supreme over the Balkan Peninsula. Then there were almost two centuries of Byzantine slavery and five centuries of Turkish yoke. Bulgaria as a state disappeared from the world map for seven hundred years. Russia saved its Orthodox brothers from Muslim slavery at the cost of the lives of almost two hundred thousand of its soldiers. The Russian-Turkish War of 1877 – 1878 is etched in history in golden letters. “There is only one state to which the Bulgarians are indebted for all time, and that is Russia,” says the famous Bulgarian journalist and former Bulgarian ambassador to the Balkans Velizar Yenchev. This is now an unpopular opinion among our political elite, who do not want to admit: for the rest of our lives we must thank Russia for liberating us from the Turks. We were the last in the Balkans to gain freedom. If it were not for the Russian imperial army, we would now be like Kurds and would not even have the right to speak our native language. We have seen only good things from you and are indebted to you to the end of our lives.”
“It was the most emotional war in European history,” says Sofia University history professor Andrei Pantev. — The most honest war, romantic and noble. Russia did not gain anything good from our liberation. The Russians boarded their ships and left for home. All Balkan countries, after liberation from Turkish slavery with the help of Russia, turned AGAINST Russia towards the West. It looks like a parable about a beautiful princess who was saved from a dragon by one knight and kissed by another. At the end of the 19th century, there was even an opinion in Russia: why the hell should we quarrel with the West over these ungrateful Slavs?
Bulgaria has always suffered from the “sunflower syndrome”, always looking for a strong patron and often making mistakes. In two world wars, Bulgaria sided with Germany against Russia. “Over the entire twentieth century, we were declared aggressors three times,” says historian Andrei Pantev. — First in 1913 (the so-called Inter-Allied Balkan War), then in 1919 and 1945. During the First World War, Bulgaria fought in one way or another against three states that participated in the war of liberation against the Turks: Russia, Romania and Serbia. This is a big mistake. What seems pragmatic at the current political moment often turns out to be simply disgusting in the court of history.”
Despite past differences, Bulgaria is our closest sister country. The tree of our friendship has bore bitter fruit more than once, but we have a common written language, a common religion and culture, and a common Slavic blood. And blood, as you know, is not water. For deep reasons, classical memories and heroic legends, the Bulgarians will forever remain our brothers - the last brothers in Eastern Europe.

On March 3, Bulgaria celebrates a national holiday - the Day of the Country's Liberation from the Ottoman yoke!

134 years ago - March 3 (February 19, old style) 1878 - Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of San Stefano at the end of the Russian-Turkish War (1877-1878), which laid the preconditions for the formation of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom in 1908.

According to tradition, the main center of commemorative events every year is the Shipka peak located in Central Bulgaria, which is part of the Balkan Mountains. It was at this peak, 1523 meters high, that one of the most important battles of the Russian-Turkish war took place in August 1877. In the famous six-day battle, Russian troops, supported by Bulgarian militias, managed to defend the Shipka Pass and wait for reinforcements, while the superior forces of the Turks tried any capture a strategic position at a cost. During this battle, more than three thousand Russian soldiers and officers died.

On Shipka, on Stoletov Peak, where the Freedom Monument is located, a solemn memorial ceremony was held, laying wreaths and flowers, and the main ceremonial events took place in Sofia at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.

On this day, solemn events are held throughout Bulgaria in which they pay tribute to the memory and gratitude of Russian soldiers and Bulgarian militias who died for the freedom of Bulgaria.

Everywhere prayers of gratitude to Russian soldiers are rushing to Heaven!
In the memorial Church of the Nativity of Christ, which is part of the memorial complex, a memorial service was held in memory of Russian and Bulgarian soldiers.

To Genka Bogdanova and all the Bulgarian people from Olga Borisova

Dear Genka and all the Bulgarian people!
I sincerely congratulate everyone on this great holiday! Nothing is forgotten and no one is forgotten! I live next to a street called Stara Zagora. I often walk along snow-covered alleys under majestic fir trees. I walk and am glad that I also came into contact with Bulgaria, that I translate Bulgarian poets and write about our common history. These days, all Samara schools are holding events dedicated to those distant events. They invite me too, where I talk about the Samara Banner, read my trilogy, and also read poems by Bulgarian poets. Children listen with pleasure and find it interesting. In one of our museums a copy of the banner made in Bulgaria is kept. We take care of our common memory! And our friendship is proof of this. Blessed be BULGARIA! Free and independent!

OLGA BORISOVA
Samara banner.

"Let us raise the battle banner,
The whole country will be free!..."
Dobri Chintulov*

1.
Night has fallen. Lamp light.
Here with a prayer on my lips
(Days fly by on the sly)
Delicate silk in holy hands.
Craftswomen embroider:
The letters are burning in gold,
A banner is sewn from stripes -
Different colors in a row:
Red, white, blue in the center,
The cross is embroidered in the middle,
And in the gray evening blue
The saint's face shines brightly.
Nights, days - everyone embroiders
Before the holy image,
Thread is added to thread
Silk is bright gold.
Two Slavic saints
Embroidered by someone's hand,
Against the hordes of those Ottoman
There was a cover over the head.
Mother with tender love
In a gilded cross -
Our Lady diligently
I embroidered the face on canvas.
Here the cloth is ready -
Ribbons in gentle hands,
The Word is embroidered with Christ:
"May God rise again..."
in lines.

2.
And the people of Samara gave
This is a holy gift to the brothers,
And they solemnly presented it,
A banner to lead to the right battle.
The banner developed in the battles
And in bayonet attacks,
Hovered victoriously over the ridge
In those glorious centuries of yore.

3.
And in Sofia a symbol of brotherhood
People keep it carefully,
Like a relic of unity
He reveres the Russian flag sacredly.

BATTLE FOR STARA - ZAGORA

The wide field turns red
From the fezzes of Turkish soldiers.
Evening over the city. It's getting dark.
And a crimson sunset hangs.
Five thousand soldiers are covering
Your city, which is behind you,
And a small detachment sets out,
And a heated battle breaks out.
And the slopes are shrouded in smoke,
The guns are full of fire;
And screams, and grinding, and groans,
The flashes make it as bright as day.
But the Samara banner is formidable
Floats above the bloody slaughter,
It burns like a flame
Leads his people to freedom.
But he falls, struck by a bullet,
One standard bearer, another
And in battle, a hero born again,
He leads the squad behind him.
The brothers rallied around the banner:
Bulgarian and Russian soldier -
And they walked as a formidable army,
Through the smoke and fire of cannonades.

HERE THE MONUMENT WILL STAND

The bloody battle has not yet subsided
With the stubborn Ottoman near Stara Zagora,
And the city is burning instead of prayer,
I listened to how his battle rumbled near the walls -
The gray-haired general suddenly said wearily,
That there will be a monument to the heroes;
This southern land has become holy,
Where the brothers rallied and went to win.

And a bronze lion in silence above the area
Frozen, guarding the soldier's peace:
A fallen Bulgarian, a Russian friend -
Let the past feat be glorious for centuries!

May God rest you in the land for the freedom of the Russian war in Bulgaria!

May God rest the souls of those who fell for the freedom of Bulgaria!
It was worth it. Vladikov.

(In the photo with the militia, Stoily Vladikov is holding a weapon from 1878)