1st millennium

Around 15 new monuments this year will become part of the writer's alley in the Pliska Cyrillic Yard. This was reported in an interview by Darik with Karen Aleksanian, who set up the complex four years ago. Almost 40 busts of artists from different countries who have written in the Cyrillic alphabet.

On May 24 we celebrate the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and the Slavonic Literature. This day is dedicated to the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius - the creators of the Slavonic script.

The jailed anarchist and robber Nikos Romanos is expected to be freed in due course after a five-member criminal appeals court on Monday reduced his initial sentence, following a recent Supreme Court decision recognizing his good behavior behind bars.

The visit of Pope Francis has become an occasion for all kinds of discussions.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church Metropolitan of Rousse, Naum, comments on Pope's visit to Bulgaria

Free prophylactic medical examinations for socially disadvantaged people will be held in the tent of the social kitchen  in the courtyard of Sofia's St. Cyril and Methodius Church.

From 11 o'clock today doctors from several hospitals in Sofia will carry out prophylactic examinations free of charge for people in need.

One of the biggest problems in our times is the fact that very few respectable people want to get involved in politics or public life in general. And who can blame them? Politics has become an extreme sport suitable only for people with strong stomachs and nerves. In the era of social media, what we used to call a "hot seat" has become a Colosseum. Any notion of privacy has been lost.

Plovdiv, the second-largest city in Bulgaria, is getting ready to cement its status on the European city break circuit as one of two European capitals of culture for 2019, according to CNN.  (The other is the rocky city of Matera, Italy.)

Visitors to Venice will have to pay a new tax to help cover the costs of keeping the tourist-thronged historic city clean and safe, city officials have announced.

Within three years the building of the National Library "St. St. Cyril and Methodius "will be completely renewed. This was announced by the Minister of Culture, Boil Banov, after the commemoration of the anniversary of the oldest cultural institute in the post-liberation Bulgaria. Today, the National Library marks the 140th anniversary of its creation.
 

The first Hagia Sophia was built in 360 AD with a basilica layout and architectural features. In 405, Hagia Sophia was rebuilt after it was burnt down during an uprising and was reopened in 415. The monument today is the third Hagia Sophia built on the same ground, according to records.