Patriarch Kirill: Bulgaria Owes Its Independence to Russian Empire, United Against the Ottoman Yoke
Bulgaria owes the victory in the last Russian-Turkish war to Poland, Lithuania, and Finland, according to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, who concluded the celebrations of the 140th anniversary of the country's liberation from the Ottoman yoke. Patriarch Kirill, who attended the ceremonies, had to recall that in the third quarter of the 19th century, Poles, Lithuanians, and Finns fought not under the flag of a united Europe but under the banners of the Russian Empire.
Here's Dmitry Khrustalyov with the report.
The Patriarch's 7-minute-long improvised speech, delivered some minutes before his departure for Moscow, left the participants of the official dinner silent. If you tell the truth, then tell the truth and shame the devil. The speech of Patriarch Kirill at the end of his 3-day visit to Bulgaria is now being quoted by all local newspapers and TV channels. After the review of troops, Rumen Radev expressed gratitude for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke 140 years ago. But instead of speaking about Russia's key role and Tsar Alexander II, whose statue graced the site of the ceremony, the president decided to include all the nations in his address: "Russians, Romanians, Finns, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Poles".
At the meeting at the presidential residence, the Patriarch said that he was disappointed that the Russian army that had liberated Bulgaria was divided into separate nationalities.
Patriarch Kirill: "Poland and Finland don't have a single page on freeing Bulgaria in their history. But, the story of freeing Bulgaria is written in blood in Russia's history. No political correctness can justify such historical misinterpretation".
At the end of the 19th century, the Bulgarians rose up against the Ottoman yoke. The Turkish Empire responded with bloodshed. As Victor Hugo wrote, a whole people was being exterminated in plain view of Europe. Russia came to the rescue.
Stoletov Peak is 1,523 meters above sea level. It's the highest point of the Shipka Pass, offering a stunning view. But it's absolutely unsuitable for warfare. There are no fortifications, it's exposed to fire, and it's very cold and wet here in winter. It involved four months of determined defense, all without any winter uniforms, but 140 years ago this pass was to be held at any cost. For months, Russian soldiers and Bulgarian militiamen held the pass shoulder-to-shoulder. The Turkish army that outnumbered them failed to take it. But this peak became a mass grave for 10 thousand soldiers. Thousands of people come to honor the liberators every year.
Patriarch Kirill: "However, the best part is visiting the Shipka Pass. There, we didn't see Finnish flags, nor Polish flags, nor Romanian flags. We only saw Russian and Bulgarian flags there. One couldn't hold back tears while seeing the people's admiration, which reflects the genuine attitude of Bulgarians to Russia".
In the spring of 1878, the Treaty of San Stefano returned Bulgaria to the world map after a 5-century lapse. In memory of the heroic deed, the Church of the Nativity of Christ was built at the foot of Shipka thanks to donations from ordinary Russians and Bulgarians. The bells were made in Russia. And the Eternal Flame always burns atop Shipka.
Dmitry Khrustalyov, Dmitry Demyanov for Vesti from Sofia, Shipka.