Bolhrad

Bolhrad is a city in Ukraine, the administrative center of Bolhrad, Odessa region. The city is considered to be the unofficial capital of the Bessarabian Bulgarians and is located in the historic district of Budjak (South Bessarabia). Today's Bolhrad was founded in 1821 by Bulgarians settling on these lands under the leadership of Russian General Ivan Inzov, who today is celebrated by the Bolhrad people as the founder of their city. Bolhrad became the cultural center of the Bulgarian colonies in Besarabia. On October 29, 1838, after five years of construction, the temple "Holy Transfiguration of God" was consecrated - this day is celebrated as the day of the Bessarabian Bulgarians. On June 28, 1858, Nikola Bogoridi, opened the Bolhrad High School "St. St. Cyril and Methodius "- National Central School in Bolhrad. The school prepares the first political, educational and cultural figures in Bulgaria after the liberation and restoration of the Bulgarian statehood in 1878. In time, Bolhrad is consequently on the territory of Moldova from 1856 to 1859, in Romania from 1859 to 1878, 1918 to 1940 and 1941 to 1944, while during the rest of the time it is part of the Russian Empire. After 1944 it became part of the Ukrainian Soviet Union, and afterwards - of the independent Ukraine. In 2013, the Bulgarian language is given regional language status in the city. (Source: bg.wikipedia.org)