NEWS

The life of the Cyrillic alphabet continues in the digital age, as long as we are its guardians, the head of state pointed out at the closing session of the third International Cyrillic Forum

 

Bulgarian culture and the Cyrillic alphabet should be available not only to us, the Bulgarians, but to all of humanity. This was stated by Head of State Iliana Iotova in her speech during the second day of the International Forum on the Cyrillic Alphabet "Spiritual Heritage in the Digital Age", which took place in the Rila Monastery. The scientific conference is organised at the initiative of the President and is under the auspices of the National Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria for UNESCO, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education and Science and with the support of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

 

Iotova emphasised that the life of the Cyrillic alphabet continues in the digital age, as long as we are its guardians and vigilantly ensure that our language is not outplaced by other languages, that the beautiful Bulgarian words and the beautiful Cyrillic letters are not replaced.

 

The head of state noted that the third International Cyrillic Forum has focused on the great responsibility and mission of bringing our history, ancient culture and spirituality into the digital age. It is no coincidence that one of the main participants in this forum was the students of the National High School for Ancient Languages and Cultures, the president pointed out. Two twelfth-graders presented their views on the Cyrillic alphabet and artificial intelligence during the first day of the forum, which was held in Sofia.

 

In her speech, President Iotova highlighted the broad international participation, expressing gratitude to the guests from various universities and scientific institutions from all over Europe. The two-day event was attended by scholars from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Bulgarian universities, as well as renowned lecturers from Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Kazakhstan, and China. I am convinced that from the moment you crossed the threshold of Bulgarian spirituality and culture, it is already a part of you, said the head of state.

 

In the final academic program at the Rila Monastery, dedicated to the testaments, preservation and presentation of the spiritual heritage of Bulgaria, emphasis was placed on St. Ivan of Rila. In 2026, 1080 years since his repose will be celebrated. The head of state expressed gratitude for the hospitality of the abbot of the Rila Monastery, Bishop Evlogii of Adrianople, emphasising that the holding of the event in the Rila holy monastery is a sign of respect and honour to the Heavenly Patron of the Bulgarians.

 

Within the framework of the forum, the abbot of the Holy Rila Monastery, Bishop Evlogii of Adrianople, and the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia, Daniil, delivered greetings. Our Orthodox Church has always encouraged, welcomed and blessed every initiative contributing to the study and popularisation of Bulgarian and Slavic literature and the alphabet through which it has been expressed for 12 centuries, said the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia, Daniil, in his greeting. He wished the participants in the forum, with joint efforts, with God's grace and help and under the auspices of St. John of Rila, to be worthy continuers in the digital age of our bequeathed thousand-year-old Christian spiritual and literary tradition, the foundations of which are bright people with a holy life, enlightened minds and virtuous lives.

 

In the icon gallery, where today's closing session of the conference was held, part of the exhibition "The Beauty of the Orthodox Spirit: Valuable Old Printed Books and Engravings from the Library of the Rila Monastery (16th-19th centuries)" was also exhibited.

President Iliana Iotova welcomed the guests at the concert of the Svetoglas Quartet, which took place at the Museum of Christian Art, located in the crypt of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Our mission is to make the voice of ancient Slavic culture, Bulgarian studies and the Bulgarian language heard louder in the world, says the head of state at the International Forum on the Cyrillic Alphabet "Spiritual Heritage in the Digital Age", organized on her initiative

In her greeting, the head of state highlighted the professional experience and fruitful work of Ambassador Meyer in Bulgaria, and in her words, his efforts have encouraged cultural and educational ties between the two peoples

The focus of the talks was also the administrative-territorial reform in the country