“Patriotism is not a sin, but a choice made by the worthy. The feat of the rebels in the April uprising in 1876 reminds us that the submission to God is not reconciliation and apathy and those that are spiritually clean are often the boldest in their dreams and actions, that our destiny depends on us.” This is what Head of State Rumen Radev said in Klisura, where he took part in the solemn commemoration of the 143rd anniversary of the April uprising.
The Head of State emphasized that the faith in independent Bulgaria was the hope of the rebels, who made a conscious self-sacrifice and turned their town into a fire that illuminated the road to freedom and to a new Bulgaria. After the bloody pogrom the people from Klisura came back to ensure that their town will rise from the ashes. “At Easter the orthodox Bulgarians flow to the churches to pay homage to the miracle of the Resurrection. Our temples are not only made of stone. There is one more holy temple that everyone born on this land will cherish in their heart and in which we will always do honor to the resurrection of our people from slavery,” Rumen Radev said.
In his address the President recalled the impassioned speech of Grigor Popbozhkov at the consecration of flag of the uprising ahead of the battle for Zli Dol – “Although we are physically weak, we are strong in justice and we believe that justice will triumph – if there is a Christian God and World! And when the tortured people promptly start seeking justice from all parts of the country, it will be won. Precisely this time, this glorious hour has come.”
In Klisura the President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces visited the history museum in the town. Then he reviewed the formation of the 61st Stryama Mechanized Brigade and attended the solemn tattoo in memory of those who died for Bulgaria’s freedom.