September 6 marks the anniversary of the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia, an event commemorated across the country with numerous military rituals and festive activities. In Veliko Tarnovo, Stara Zagora, Blagoevgrad, Haskovo, Yambol, Sliven, Varna, Burgas, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Asenovgrad, Radomir, and many other towns, the anniversary of the 1885 events was celebrated with a solemn spirit. In the capital, Sofia, the focus was on the Mausoleum of Prince Alexander Battenberg, where a ceremony was held featuring a representative military unit from the National Guards. The Ministry of Defence press center added that the National Museum of Military History in Sofia hosted visitors for thematic tours at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., tracing the historical path toward the unification of the Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia.
The culmination of the 141st anniversary took place in Plovdiv, where the festive program began early in the morning. In the evening, a solemn tattoo (parade-retreat) was held at 8:30 p.m. at Saedinenie Square, under the command of Brigadier General Bozhidar Boykov. Vice President Iliana Iotova reviewed the honorary formation, and official guests included Minister of Defence Dimitar Stoyanov and Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov. The large-scale military ritual involved representative formations from the Land Forces, the Air Force (AF), and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), alongside the Representative Brass Band of the Air Force.
Chronology of events in Plovdiv
- 10:00 a.m., Saint Bogoroditsa Cathedral – a solemn prayer service conducted by Metropolitan Nikolay of Plovdiv.
- Following the prayer service, church courtyard – laying of wreaths and flowers at the monument of Gavril Krastevich.
- 11:00 a.m., near the Roman Stadium Square – laying of wreaths and flowers at the memorial plaque of Major Raycho Nikolov.
- 11:30 a.m., City Garden (behind the Regional Museum of Natural History) – laying of wreaths and flowers at the monument of Zahari Stoyanov.
- 12:00 p.m., Saedinenie Square – awards ceremony for the winners of the 50th jubilee International Memorial Marathon "Saedinenie". (The 22-kilometer race started at 9:30 a.m. from the town of Saedinenie and finished in Plovdiv).
- 7:00 p.m., Roman Stadium Square – a reenactment of the events of September 6, 1885, prepared by the "Rodolyubie" committee.
- 7:45 p.m., Regional Historical Museum – opening of the exhibition "Preserved Memory of the Unification of 1885 in Bulgarian museums, archives, libraries, and private collections."
- 8:30 p.m., Saedinenie Square – solemn tattoo.