Minister Nickolay Mladenov opened the Glagolitsa Exhibition on the National Enlighteners’ Day
On the National Enlighteners’ Day, on which we honour the spiritual leaders of the Bulgarian nation and their deed in the pursuit of an independent Bulgarian State, for preserving the spirit and establishing the basis of the nation and of the State, Minister Nickolay Mladenov opened the Glagolitsa Exhibition.Minister Mladenov recalled that the National Enlighteners’ Day was celebrated for the first time in 1922 as a sign of remembrance of the individuals who had promoted the spiritual advancement of this country. He shared his view that 1 November and 24 May are two truly Bulgarian holidays. Owing to the great exploit of Constantine Cyril the Philosopher who had invented the Glagolitic alphabet – the most sophisticated graphical and logical combination of symbols in world practice – the exhibition is also an expression of our pride as a nation having two alphabets, the Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabets and, consequently, an immense phonetic diversity. Minister Mladenov said that the Glagolitic alphabet is the truly genuine Bulgarian alphabet, and went on to describe it as an alphabet, which contains the nucleus of a new beginning in Bulgaria and on the Balkans.
Provoked by the enigma of the Glagolitic as an indivisible part of our cultural heritage and as an element of high spiritual intensity, artist Pavlin Petrov, author of the exhibition, sends a visual appeal to his compatriots to be proud of their unique alphabet.
The project is implemented in partnership by the State Institute for Culture and the Association for Arts and Crafts Development (A.R.I.Z.-7). Pavlin Petrov is President of the Association for Arts and Crafts Development (www.ariz7.com).The pieces of the exhibition offer an original representation of the symbols of the first Bulgarian alphabet, and take the visitors back to the origins of the Bulgarian nation. The artist uses a suitable combination of diverse materials, e.g. leather, fabric, wood, metal, and ceramics. Along with the Glagolitic alphabet, one can see some if the symbols used by the proto-Bulgarians, the monograms of Khan Asparukh and Khan Kubrat.
The official opening of the exhibition in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was attended by guests from the diplomatic corps, representatives of public institutions and agencies, Bulgarian and foreign companies, cultural organisations, scholars and researchers.
The talented children of Duet Rukatka welcomed the guests, and performed for them.
The State Institute for Culture will include the exhibition in its Travelling Exhibitions Project, which will accordingly contribute to the cultural calendar of Bulgaria’s missions abroad.