“The Heart of Bulgaria” exhibition is visiting UNESCO
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the entry of the Rila Monastery into the World Heritage List, in the period from April 24 to 28, 2023, a photo exhibition titled "The Heart of Bulgaria" is presented at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The exhibition features 20 impressive photographs from the Rila Monastery and comes under the patronage of the National Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria for UNESCO and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The organizer of the exhibition is the Institute of Balkan Studies with the Center for Trachology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science, the State Institute for Cultural at the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Bulgaria in France.
The official opening of the exhibition took place on April 24, 2023. The history of the Rila Holy Monastery, its importance as a world cultural heritage site and its role in preserving Bulgarian spirituality over the centuries was presented. Prof. Rumyana Preshlenova, director of the Institute of Balkan Studies with the Center for Trachology at the BAS, Dr. Alexandra Milanova, scientific coordinator of the exhibition, Father Ivan Karageorgiev, representative of the BOC, participated. Ms. Zornitsa Grekova, Deputy Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to UNESCO, represented the Embassy of Bulgaria in France.
The guest of honour at the event was Mr. Ernesto Ottone, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO, who welcomed the initiative and congratulated Bulgaria for its effective contribution to the overall work of UNESCO. He shared his excellent impressions of his visit to Bulgaria in March 2023.
The opening of the exhibition was honoured by representatives of the diplomatic corps in Paris, by employees of the UNESCO Secretariat and the World Heritage Center, and by many friends of Bulgaria in France.