September 22: Independence Day in Bulgaria
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Bulgaria.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
Bulgaria was the ancient home of Thracian peoples. It became part of the ancient Greek, Persian, and Roman empires. The modern name of the country comes from the Bulgars, a somewhat mysterious people group who rose to prominence in the 5th century. A treaty between the Bulgars and the Byzantines in 681 established a distinct Bulgarian state.
The Bulgar people and their Slavic neighbors gradually assimilated their language and culture. Christianity spread in the region in the 800s, thanks in part to the work of Cyril and Methodius, who developed a way to write the Slavic language.
Bulgaria became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 1300s. Though it effectively gained independence in 1878, the country celebrates Independence Day on September 22. This was the Old Style date in 1908 when Bulgaria officially declared independence from the Ottomans.
Bulgaria was involved in the Balkan Wars in the years before World War I. Though it initially declared neutrality in the Great War, some leaders pushed it to join the Central Powers against the Allies. It suffered more casualties as a percentage of its population than any other country during the war.
Though Bulgaria again allied with Germany during World War II, many Bulgarians resisted efforts to deport Jews during the Holocaust. After World War II, the country came under Soviet influence and Communist control.
Today Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic with a population of about 7 million. A majority of the people are ethnic Bulgarians who speak the Bulgarian language. There are sizeable minorities of Turkish and Roma people. A majority of Bulgarians identify with the Orthodox Church, though religious engagement is relatively low. About 10% of the people are Muslim.
This 2022 photo shows Independence Square in Varna, Bulgaria. Photo by trabantos / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
This 2020 video features historical reenactments of events related to Bulgaria's declaration of independence in 1908. The captions are in Russian, but you can appreciate the historical costumes (and the carriage driver playing with his smartphone).
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
