Honoring Vasil Levski’s memory brings the people of Bulgaria and Cyprus closer together. The Apostle of Freedom is part of Bulgaria, of the country’s past, present and future. His messages are even stronger when we are far away from our homeland. This is what President Rumen Radev said, who attended a ceremony of opening a street named after Vasil Levski in Lakatamia, Nicosia. Head of State Rumen Radev is on a two-day visit in the Republic of Cyprus at the invitation of his counterpart Nicos Anastasiades.
The ceremony was attended by tens of representatives of the Bulgarian community and citizens of Cyprus who lived in our country. The President addressed the Bulgarians in Cyprus with words of gratitude for preserving the Bulgarian values, language and culture outside our homeland.
Rumen Radev voiced Bulgaria’s gratitude to the mayor of Lakatamia Fotoula Hajipapa and the municipal council for the opportunity they provided to honor the memory of the hero of the Bulgarian liberation movement Vasil Levski in the capital of Cyprus.
Earlier the Head of State met His Beatitude the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II. At the meeting Rumen Radev highlighted the important social role of the Cyprus Orthodox Church in society, and also as an orthodox institution that develops good relations with other Christian churches and different religions.
“The people cannot be united if the church is divided. It is namely when politicians make mistakes and divide society that religion and church should restore the unity,” the President said and briefed Archbishop Chrysostomos II on the traditions of peaceful coexistence of different religions in our country. “This is a proof that our eastern orthodox church is tolerant and sets an example to the rest,” the President said.
Head of State Rumen Radev gave His Beatitude the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II a copy of “The Slavic Bulgarian History” as a symbol of the key role that Christian religion plays in constructing the Bulgarian identity and preserving the Bulgarian language and history.