Montana Public Holiday – Sveti Duh (Holy Ghost)

Sveti Duh (Wholly Spirit) is a Christian holiday, related to many regional holidays. On this day, Jesus Christ created his church here on Earth by sending the Wholly Spirit. This day is also the public holiday of Montana – a Bulgarian town with a century-long history and rich cultural background. In the first millennium B.C., the fertile and picturesque valley of the river Ogosta was inhabited by Thracian tribes. A part of a Thracian fortress has been found under the level of a Roman fortress in Montana. Between 4-1 century B.C., the area was inhabited by the tribals. Later on, the region was conquered by the Romans and became a part of the Roman province Mizia. Because of the important geographical and economic location of river Ogosta’s valley, a Roman military garrison was founded here. Its name was first mentioned in the year 134 as “Montan Praesidiu”. Epigraphic monuments are the only ancient history sources providing information about the town. Etymologically, its name is related to the word “mons” – which means a mountain, and “montani”, which means mountaineers. Montana was officially acknowledged as a municipium in the year 161 during the ruling of the emperor Mark Aurelius. Its economic strength grew quickly. In 7-8th century, the Slavic people established the settlement Kutlovitza. In the middle ages, the town became an episcopal center, as well as an important economic and business area. In 1891, prince Ferdinand legitimate the town and it turned into a municipal center.