{"id":197,"date":"2007-12-09T22:51:36","date_gmt":"2007-12-09T12:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.travelsignposts.com\/wordpress\/?p=197"},"modified":"2012-04-06T13:14:59","modified_gmt":"2012-04-06T03:14:59","slug":"st-sofia-day-celebrations-the-day-i-met-the-president-of-bulgaria-sofia-bulgaria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.travelsignposts.com\/wordpress\/bulgaria\/things-to-see-in-sofia\/st-sofia-day-celebrations-the-day-i-met-the-president-of-bulgaria-sofia-bulgaria","title":{"rendered":"St. Sofia Day Celebrations &#8211; The Day I met the President of Bulgaria &#8211; Sofia, Bulgaria"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"float: right\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\"><!--\r\ngoogle_ad_client = \"pub-1009507070974015\";\r\ngoogle_alternate_ad_url = \"http:\/\/www.travelsignposts.com\/google_adsense_script.html\";\r\ngoogle_ad_width = 300;\r\ngoogle_ad_height = 250;\r\ngoogle_ad_format = \"300x250_as\";\r\ngoogle_ad_type = \"text_image\";\r\n\/\/2007-06-30: TSBlog 300x250\r\ngoogle_ad_channel = \"2928184950\";\r\ngoogle_color_border = \"FFFFFF\";\r\ngoogle_color_bg = \"FFFFFF\";\r\ngoogle_color_link = \"FF6600\";\r\ngoogle_color_text = \"000000\";\r\ngoogle_color_url = \"339933\";\r\n\/\/-->\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\r\n  src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\r\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Last year when we came through Sofia, we arrived late in the evening and just managed to catch sunset views of the external <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"right\" width=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/destination\/var\/thumbs\/Bulgaria\/Sofia\/Sofia2005\/.album.jpg?resize=110%2C85\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Sofia, Bulgaria\" height=\"85\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 85px\" title=\"Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Sofia, Bulgaria\" \/>facade\u00a0of St. Sofia Church and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/v\/Bulgaria\/Sofia\/Sofia2005\/\" title=\"Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Sofia\">Alexander Nevsky Cathedral<\/a>. This time around, we were much luckier as we happened to be in the city on St. Sofia Day (September 17), a day when the Orthodox world pays tribute to the Holy martyrs Sofia and her three daughters Faith, Hope and Love.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"left\" width=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/d\/37169-2\/DSC_0681.jpg?resize=110%2C80\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"Defence personnel - Sofia\" height=\"80\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 80px\" title=\"Defence personnel - Sofia\" \/>From the group of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/v\/Bulgaria\/Sofia\/StSophiaDay\/DSC_0681.jpg.html\" title=\"Defence personnel - Sofia\">defence personnel<\/a>, police and crowds that had gathered, it was apparent that an event was about to take place, but we couldn\u2019t get anyone to tell us what it was in English.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"right\" width=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/d\/37185-2\/AJP_2889.jpg?resize=110%2C85\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"Ceremonial altar - St. Sofia Day\" height=\"85\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 85px\" title=\"Ceremonial altar - St. Sofia Day\" \/>There was a large stand set up for the media and photographers on one side of the road and across from them, a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/v\/Bulgaria\/Sofia\/StSophiaDay\/AJP_2889.jpg.html\" title=\"Ceremonial altar - St. Sofia Day\">temporary altar <\/a>that had been set up.\u00a0 A large gathering of Orthodox priests were standing by the altar in colorful and magnificent gold embroidered robes.\u00a0\u00a0 It must have been really hot for them in the sweltering heat. Next to the priests, rows of\u00a0men and women were standing in line.\u00a0 From their mixed nationalities, one assumed that\u00a0they must be from the diplomatic missions.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"left\" width=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/d\/37173-2\/DSC_0698.jpg?resize=110%2C85\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"St. Sofia Day Parade, Sofia\" height=\"85\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 85px\" title=\"St. Sofia Day Parade, Sofia\" \/>A moment of panic as we thought that we had missed all the good viewing spots, but fortunately, a bit further up from the media stand, we found a spot under a shady tree.\u00a0 What a triumph as this turned out to be much better than the photographer\u2019s stand! From where we were we had a frontal view of the altar. More people were gathering\u00a0 along the street and everyone seemed pretty patient in spite of the long wait.\u00a0 Eventually, a black <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"right\" width=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/d\/37195-2\/AJP_2895.jpg?resize=110%2C79\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"St. Sofia Day Celebrations - Sofia\" height=\"79\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 79px\" title=\"St. Sofia Day Celebrations - Sofia\" \/>limousine pulled up in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral square.\u00a0 A very distinguished looking man got out of the car and walked towards the altar.\u00a0 The\u00a0local lady next to me was all smiles and she told me that it was their President, Georgi Parvanov, accompanied by the city&#8217;s Mayor Boyko Borissov. Cameras clicked away while all the military personnel and police stood to attention.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"left\" width=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/d\/37193-2\/AJP_2894.jpg?resize=110%2C85\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"St. Sofia Day Parade - Sofia\" height=\"85\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 85px\" title=\"St. Sofia Day Parade - Sofia\" \/>The President did his ceremonial duties, greeting the senior priests, inspecting the guards and then greeting the diplomats. After the national anthem, a liturgy was conducted by the Deputy Patriarch (we think).<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"right\" width=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/d\/37233-2\/AJP_2913.jpg?resize=110%2C85\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"St. Sofia Day Parada - Sofia\" height=\"85\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 85px\" title=\"St. Sofia Day Parada - Sofia\" \/>When the official ceremony was over, the troops marched off and the crowd then pushed past the barriers and made their way across the road to St. Sofia Church where the President had headed.\u00a0 We thought this was a gross breach of security, but apparently, it was normal and we followed suit.\u00a0 <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"left\" width=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/d\/37237-2\/AJP_2915.jpg?resize=110%2C85\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"St. Sofia Day Celebrations - Sofia\" height=\"85\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 85px\" title=\"St. Sofia Day Celebrations - Sofia\" \/>The President did a meet and greet in front of the church and as he was leaving a tall teenage boy asked for something to be written in his notebook, I thought.\u00a0 The President wrote a long message in this boy&#8217;s book and it was touching that he took so much time and care\u00a0to do this.\u00a0 When he was finished, a lady next to me handed her notebook for an autograph which the President kindly obliged.\u00a0 Not speaking the language, but gauging from his friendliness, I plucked up courage and asked for an autograph as <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"right\" width=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/d\/37247-2\/DSC_0760.jpg?resize=110%2C85\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"President of Bulgaria - Sofia\" height=\"85\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 85px\" title=\"President of Bulgaria - Sofia\" \/>well, declaring that I was from Australia.\u00a0 He looked up,\u00a0 surprised at a foreign voice, but still signed on my notebook and I also scored a quick handshake.\u00a0 So this was the day that I had my brush with presidential fame.\u00a0 It really made my day in Sofia!\u00a0 It&#8217;s not everyday that one gets to meet a president of a country whilst on holidays.\u00a0 The greatest disappointment was that Tony was nowhere to be seen and missed the photo <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"3\" align=\"left\" width=\"85\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelsignposts.com\/Destination\/d\/37259-2\/AJP_2920.jpg?resize=85%2C110\" hspace=\"3\" alt=\"St. Sofia Day Celebrations - Sofia\" height=\"110\" style=\"width: 85px; height: 110px\" title=\"St. Sofia Day Celebrations - Sofia\" \/>opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>As the President was leaving and the crowd dispersing, I said to this senior looking military guy that &#8220;Your President is great.\u00a0 He&#8217;s so friendly.&#8221;\u00a0 This guy turned out to be the Chief of Military Protocol.\u00a0 Tony recognized him, through his lenses, giving instructions during the proceedings.\u00a0 The next blog covers our time with our newly found Colonel friend.<\/p>\n<p>Helen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last year when we came through Sofia, we arrived late in the evening and just managed to catch sunset views of the external facade\u00a0of St. Sofia Church and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. This time around, we were much luckier as we happened to be in the city on St. Sofia Day (September 17), a day when [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-things-to-see-in-sofia"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>St. Sofia Day Celebrations - 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