September 22 – Bulgaria’s Independence Day

30 years after Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman yoke, the effects of the Congress of Berlin July 1 (13), 1878 continued to lie heavy on Bulgarian people. The final rejection of the unfairly imposed clauses was not possible before 1908. The Young Turks’ taking the power in Turkey and the Austrian intention to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina favoured Bulgarian position. The diplomats decided to proclaim the country’s Independence right after the annexing finding this moment for the most suitable one. The whole preparation for the ceremony was performed in measures of extraordinary security and secrecy. Despite Russian dissent, in the morning of September 22, 1908 prince Ferdinand and the politicians went into the church St. 40 Martyrs in Veliko Tarnovo where a divine service was carried out. When the service ended prince Ferdinand read an edict proclaiming Bulgaria for Independent Kingdom and its sovereign for Bulgarian King. The people who witnessed the ceremony were truly astonished and the news ignited tremendous and spontaneous joy among the Bulgarians. Proclaiming the independence gave Bulgaria the right to be treated equally in the international relations. Gradually the monarch’s position became consolidated. The prince’s edict directly reflected on the European political situation. The Bulgarian Independence’ proclaiming was a manifestation of the independent Bulgarian spirit and was an important step towards the consolidation of the Third Bulgarian State.