Petrova Niva, Bulgaria - Every summer, Bulgarian history returns to the memorable events of 1903, when the thirst for freedom ignited in the hearts of thousands of Bulgarians. This year, to commemorate the 122nd anniversary of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising, state and public figures gathered in the historical area of Petrova Niva to pay tribute to the self-sacrifice of their ancestors.
A central figure in the celebrations was the Speaker of the National Assembly, Natalia Kiselova, who, in her speech, emphasized the enduring significance of the uprising.
The self-sacrifice of the participants in the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising remains in Bulgarian history as a symbol of resistance, of the struggle for freedom that inspires future generations to fight against oppression, she stated, recalling the spiritual connection between the past and the present.
The Historical Spark of 1903
The Speaker of Parliament recalled the historical circumstances that led to the outbreak of the rebellion. During the hot summer of 1903, on the great Christian holidays of Ilinden, Preobrazhenie, and Krastovden, military detachments were formed in Macedonia and Thrace. According to Kiselova, their goal was much more than a simple revolutionary struggle. They did not just aim to implement Article 23 of the Treaty of Berlin, which declaratively granted political autonomy to these lands. Instead, their actions were dictated by deeply rooted ideals of freedom and the cherished dream of national unification with their homeland.
In her address, Natalia Kiselova criticized the half-hearted decisions of the Great Powers, which, with the Treaty of Berlin in 1878, dismembered the Bulgarian lands, leaving thousands of Bulgarians under foreign rule. It was this injustice, she said, that motivated the ancestors to reject the authority of the Ottoman Empire and fight for unification.
The Culmination: The Strandzha Republic
After the fateful decisions of the Thessaloniki Congress, which called for a mass uprising, the Strandzha region became the center of resistance. Here, in the area of Petrova Niva, the historical congress of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization (IMARO) was held. After heated debates, the participants unanimously adopted a plan for the uprising and formed a rebel headquarters. This decisive moment marked the beginning of the events that changed the course of history in the region.
The mass character of the uprising led to quick and significant successes. In the first days after the armed clashes, large territories in Adrianople Thrace and Strandzha, predominantly inhabited by Bulgarians, were liberated from Ottoman rule. On these liberated lands, the so-called Strandzha Republic was proclaimed – one of the brightest symbols of Bulgarian resistance. Kiselova described this act as
the most definitive declaration of the rejection of the sultan's authority.
Although the existence of the republic was short – less than a month – its symbolic charge remains forever in Bulgarian history. The uprising was brutally crushed by Ottoman troops, and the territories were devastated, but even after the defeat, the rebels did not abandon their people. They continued to protect the civilian population, who retreated toward the free Bulgarian state.
Tribute and Legacy
At the end of her speech, Natalia Kiselova paid eternal tribute to the fallen, defining them as heroes of
the indigenous Strandzha Republic.
The celebrations in Petrova Niva were held under the patronage of President Rumen Radev. Among the officials present at the event were:
- Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov
- Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven
- Chairman of the Thracian Societies in Bulgaria Krasimir Premyanov
- representatives of the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Istanbul
- members of parliament
- mayors and other public figures.
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Their presence underscores the significance of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising as an event that continues to unite the Bulgarian nation in honoring its heroes.
Коментари (46)
Nqkoi
16.08.2025, 22:37Браво на геройте! Гордос съм с нашата историq 🇧🇬
n. георгиев
16.08.2025, 22:42史 Уваженние към подвига на нашите предци! Голям поклон 🇧🇬💪
bat_vasko
16.08.2025, 22:37руснаците са ни истинските приятели, не тия от ес! 🇷🇺 🙄
2FE
16.08.2025, 22:40тия въстания ни доведоха до европа накрая! супер 👍
BG_GOST
16.08.2025, 22:44Точнно тъй! Героите ни отвориха пътя към свободата и Европа 🇧🇬🇪🇺
KAKA_
16.08.2025, 22:40европа знае и уважава нашата историq 💪
е_горди
16.08.2025, 22:42горди български герои! 🇧🇬 Паметта е свята!
3F7
16.08.2025, 22:46точно тъй! паметта за подвига е безсмъртна. поклон пред героите! 🇧🇬✊
fan_45
16.08.2025, 23:09Герои! Поклон пред подвига на българските революционери! 🇧🇬✊!
ЛУД_ПЕТКО
16.08.2025, 23:31ГероитеотИлиннденсапримерзанационалендухисебеотрицание!!
GRINGO_77
16.08.2025, 23:32гордостзабългариа,чеечастотевропейскотосемействоднес!
darkangel1994
16.08.2025, 23:33Векове борба за свобода! Историята ни е велика и достойна за уважение..
holera
16.08.2025, 23:37Точно така! Героите ни са безсмъртни, България винаги ще е свободна! 🇧🇬❤️!
bat_vasko
16.08.2025, 23:47Руция ще ни защити от запада, предатели!
bai_ivan1996
16.08.2025, 23:48Obedineni v ESto sme posilni! Da zhivey Balariya!
PROSTO_CHOVEK
16.08.2025, 23:49геройте! Нашата истария е свята! 🇧🇬!
REALIST
16.08.2025, 23:52уважение за подвига! нашата памет е свещена 💪🇧🇬
поклон_дали
17.08.2025, 00:19Герои, дали всичко за свободата! 🇧🇬 Поклон пред подвига!
VANKATABG
17.08.2025, 00:21Respect на бойците! Бългрите винаги са се борили за свобода! 🇧🇬💪!! 😏
ГРАЖДАНИН_Х
17.08.2025, 00:21Свята история, която трябва винаги да помним! Европа ни подкрепя в паметта. 😁
DARKANGEL
17.08.2025, 00:21Западът пак ще ни предаде, спомнете си думите ми....
4erveno_flag
17.08.2025, 00:22Абестигасиплашилхоратасконспирации!🇧🇬НиесмевЕСинапред!
Nqkoi2015
17.08.2025, 00:22Истиннските патриоти са с Русиа, не с Брюксел! 🇷🇺!! 😅
PETROV
17.08.2025, 00:26Абе мола те, Русия ли ще ни спасява? Нямам думи! 🇧🇬🇪🇺
gringo_77
17.08.2025, 00:22balgariya e chast ot evropa, tova e nashiyat pobeden pat! 🇪🇺
Doktora2005
17.08.2025, 00:22истинските герои са дали вси4ко за българиа!
98B
17.08.2025, 00:25💩
B. Петров
17.08.2025, 00:27!! 😡
asdasd
17.08.2025, 00:38герои! поклонн пред подвига на българските revolucioneri! 🇧🇬✊
DARKANGEL
17.08.2025, 00:41Историята ни тепърва предстои! Европа ни чака! 🇪🇺👏
nqkoi
17.08.2025, 00:42Руснаците са ни истинските братя, не тия от ЕС! 🇷🇺
ivanka1973
17.08.2025, 01:27Гироите нна Българиа винаги ще бъдат в сърцата ни! Поклон!
Kirov89
17.08.2025, 01:29факт! нашата история е велика и европейска!
73C
17.08.2025, 01:33точно тека! силни сме, когато сме заедно и помним подвизите на дедите си 💪🇧🇬! 😁
niki_bg1985
17.08.2025, 01:29Славннаистория,достойнибългари!
martin_241997
17.08.2025, 01:59Geroi, koito shte zhiveyat vechno v sartsata ni! 🇧🇬🦁
darkangel
17.08.2025, 02:17Нашите героии са дали вси4ко за свободата! Горд съм с истортиата си 🇧🇬
nocomment
17.08.2025, 03:07Западът ни предаде тогава, предава ни и сега...!!
BabaGanka1992
17.08.2025, 03:08Горди сме с на6ата история и европейско бъдеще! 🇪🇺
KOMENTAR_BG
17.08.2025, 03:09руснаците са ни брата, западът лъже! 🇷🇺!
pich_007
17.08.2025, 03:09Никой не помни подвига им освен нас! Позор на политиците!!!
сърцата_бъдат
17.08.2025, 03:10героите на българия винаги ще бъдат в сърцата ни! 🇧🇬💪
ГРАЖДАНИН_Х
17.08.2025, 03:12истински български герои, дали живота си за свободата! поклон пред подвига им!
ASDASD
17.08.2025, 03:18Geroi, koito nikoga nyama da badat zabraveni! Poklon pred podviga im! 🇧🇬
anoniemen1979
17.08.2025, 03:21Те дадоха вси4ко за свободата ни!
EF864
17.08.2025, 03:22Европа ни цени заради такива национални добродетели!