Iconography as a spiritual shield against technology

President Iliana Iotova officially closed the 21st Iconography Assembly at the Bachkovo Monastery "Dormition of the Mother of God." In her address to those present, she emphasized that in the era of artificial intelligence and machines, the human need for spirituality before an icon is becoming increasingly necessary.

No matter how much we communicate with machines today, there are moments when we can say something only to ourselves in front of an icon, the head of state noted.

Spirituality and national self-determination

Iotova recalled the work of Prince Boris I, who laid the foundations of Slavic civilization, and emphasized the importance of Zahari Zograf, whose iconography carried the ideas of the National Revival. According to the president, where there is spirituality, there is also progress.

Recognition and traditions

  • Bishop Sioniy presented the President with the Bachkovo Certificate, marking the glorification of the relics of St. Patriarch Euthymius.
  • The certificate is written in Cyrillic and Glagolitic – symbols of the Bulgarian God-blessed identity.
  • Iliana Iotova presented the "Alphabet. Language. Identity" collections, highlighting the letter "B" as a symbol of Bulgaria, grace (blagodat), and God (Bog).

The event concluded with a religious procession and a pilgrimage to the miraculous icon of the Holy Mother of God and the relics of St. Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo.