Today is a remarkable day for all Bulgarians, said Speaker of Parliament Tsveta Karayancheva at the meeting with His Holiness Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia.

For 140 years now, this has been the resting place of Bulgarian volunteers, Russian, Finnish, Romanian and other soldiers, who lost their lives for our freedom, emphasised the Speaker of Parliament. That is why today we bow our heads at the monument on Mount Shipka, which was built as a token of appreciation by the Bulgarians, said Tsveta Karayancheva.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said that Shipka was not only part of Bulgarian but also Russian history. He added that Russian soldiers had been led by an inner urge to protect their brothers. His Holiness also mentioned the important role of the Russian Orthodox Church, which sympathised with the enslaved Bulgarians. That is why this day is a day of remembrance for Russia too, added His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.