President Yotova: Cyrillic is our privilege and the foundation of identity

The words we speak chart our path towards each other. We rarely think about this connection. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova in her address at the third International Forum for the Cyrillic alphabet on the topic “Spiritual heritage in the digital age”. The event is at the initiative of the head of state.

Words shape our world and our worldview, the president emphasized. Through them we love and we feud, although, I am convinced, we all want to banish hatred from our vocabulary, Iotova commented further. Words connect the centuries with the same expressions, verbs, nouns, adjectives, she pointed out.

The President noted that we judge our ancestors with the help of the imperishable wealth of letters. They left them to us and through them we cherish and weave wreaths for our first teachers, write poems for them, create poems, paint their bright faces, the President Iotova pointed out.

On the occasion of the Annunciation holiday, President Iotova wished for more good news. With the wish that the passing winter will take away the badness, and that spring will come, she said.

The letters remember and outlive us. With the written word, humanity does not forget its past and paints its future, Iotova further highlighted in her speech. Today we talk about bread, the price of gasoline, the economy, global conflicts, local and global news continuously and again with the same words and letters, she pointed out. Again with the same words, we even talk to artificial intelligence, the head of state added.

It is our concern to protect the Bulgarian language and Bulgarian studies, to develop and promote them, especially now, when with communication technologies the world is traversed in one second, Iotova also commented.

Our proud legacy from the glorious almost 14-century history of Bulgaria is the alphabet and the language, Iotova stated. Language is our privilege, she emphasized.

The Bulgarian state has played an essential role in Europe since its creation. Cyrillic was born here in the IX–X century from the work of the students of the Solun brothers, Iotova recalled. The President said that Cyrillic served not only for the translation of church books into an understandable language, but also formed all subsequent writing, literature and freedom of expression. Today, when the topic of freedom of speech, censorship, social networks is very relevant again, in the IX century, freedom of expression was talked about, the head of state noted.

Iotova also noted that Bulgaria is the homeland and guardian of the sacred Cyrillic alphabet. For us Bulgarians, it is the foundation of the language, our ancestral memory and our national identity, she pointed out. And for Europe, for Asia and for the world, it has brought a significant contribution both in authentic Slavic literature and through coexistence and respect in cultural diversity, Iotova added.

The President stated that the world needs agreement and meaning for the coming centuries.

This year we are celebrating the jubilee 1080 years since the Dormition of St. Ivan Rilski, so the second day of the conference is dedicated to the Rila Monastery, Iotova announced. This is not only a saint, this is the heavenly patron of the Bulgarians, she added.

I will now allow myself to bow to another anniversary, which is not present in the official calendars, but for us Bulgarians, it is very important. 120 years have passed since the birth of Academician Dmitry Likhachov – the famous Russian humanist, who got to know Slavic culture from the ground up, who inspiringly placed Bulgarian literature on the highest pedestal in world literature, Iotova also stated. She quoted his words that culture – these are the holy things of the people and the nation, that it is fragile and must be preserved.

The forum and everything that will be heard is the most serious refutation of the demise of the Cyrillic alphabet, which some wickedly and unscrupulously predict, Iotova emphasized.

The President pointed out some of the topics of this year's forum. Presentations by Bulgarian and foreign students on the Cyrillic alphabet will be part of the event. There will also be a presentation by two students from the National High School of Ancient Languages and Cultures, aimed at the use of Cyrillic in the digital world.

Iliana Iotova explained that the aim is to hear loudly the voice of an extremely ancient culture, to hear the voice of Bulgarian studies and Slavic studies around the world. More than ever, we need to talk about their invaluable spiritual heritage, and through it, about our future, she emphasized.

With its third edition, the International Forum for the Cyrillic alphabet does not build barriers. It shows how important it is to respect difference, because it is wealth, the head of state summarized.

In her speech, President Iotova thanked the Chairman of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) – Corr. Member Evelina Slavcheva, and the director of the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kalina Ivanova for the affirmation of the Bulgarian language and for the actions to organize the forum. She also congratulated the general directors of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) – Kiril Valchev, and of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) – Milen Mitev. According to her, they are the best “conductors” who manage to preserve the Cyrillic alphabet in the future.