Military Parade in Sofia to Mark Day of Valour on May 6

''This year traditional military parade in Sofia on May 6 marking Bulgaria Army Day and the Day of Valour will feature 1,200 army servicemen as well as three Air Force MiG-29 fighters and three helicopters, one Mi-17 and two Cougars'', the Ministry of Defence said. The parade will begin at 10:00 am on the Alexander Battenberg Square, involving over 700 members of various divisions of the Bulgarian army. The airforce will also make an aerial demonstration.

May 6 was officially pronounced as the Day of the Bulgarian Army on January 9, 1880, shortly after the establishment of the country's military with a decree of Knyaz Alexander Battenberg.

After the Communist regime came to power, in 1946, the holiday was banned. It was later reinstated on January 27, 1993 with a decision of the Bulgarian cabinet.

Special ceremonies will also be held in Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Yambol, and Asenovgrad.

On the sidelines of the celebrations of the Day of Bulgarian army, May 6 marks also the national feast Gergyovden, the day of one of the most popular saints - St. George, who is among the few venerated by Christians and Muslims alike. Saint George the Victorious (Pobedonosets), canonized by the Church because of his brave deeds, is usually painted on icons as riding a white horse with his lance stabbed in the throat of a beast - the dragon.

Legend has it that the dragon used to attack the shepherds and their sheep and steal a sheep or a lamb. The shepherds were desperate. Then St. George appeared and killed the dragon. The holy martyr St. George the Victorious has been considered one of the most important Saints ever since Christianity became the official state religion in Bulgaria in the 9th century. In Bulgaria St....