Minister Vigenin presented to foreign diplomats the cultural and historical heritage of Razlog Municipality
23 February 2014 News
At the invitation of the Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin and his wife, heads and members of diplomatic missions in the Republic of Bulgaria, who participated yesterday in the Fifth Bansko Ski Race " Diplomats and Friends" , visited today the villages of Dobarsko and Gorno Draglishte. The diplomats had the opportunity to get acquainted with Bulgaria's unique cultural and historical heritage in the area, among which a notable landmark is the church "St. Teodor Tiron and St. Teodor Stratilat " in Dobarsko . The church is a monument of culture and one of the 100 national tourist sites of the Bulgarian Tourist Union (BTU). The exceptional wall-paintings and authentic architecture makes it one of the most valuable pieces of Bulgarian art.
A local legend says that after the battle near the village of Klyuch, Petrich Municipality, in 1014, soldiers from Bulgarian tsar Samuil's blinded armyarrived in the area en route to the Rila Monastery and discovered the holy spring in the courtyard of the church "St. Teodor Tiron and St. Teodor Stratilat " that allegedly cured them.They established the famous Dobarsko school of music that lasted until the beginning of XX century.
Minister Vigenin reiterated the government's commitment to the preservation and promotion of Bulgarian culture, traditions and art. In front of the locals he pledged to support the candidacy of the church "St. Teodor Tiron and St. Teodor Stratilat " for inclusion in the list of World Heritage sites by UNESCO. " Bulgaria has a very rich cultural heritage and we should be more involved in its promotion. I hope that together with Ms Irina Bokova we will be able to help the region to become even more popular in the world," said the Foreign Minister.
Earlier that day the foreign diplomats visited the village of Gorno Draglishtewhere the house of the great-grandfather of Kristian Vigenin is located . The friendly host and his wife introduced the guests with the traditions and the history of the area.
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