On June 8, H. E. Mr. Anatoly Makarov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Bulgaria, gave a reception at the embassy on the occasion of the Day of Russia.

It is celebrated as a national holiday on June 12, and the date is related to the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia in 1990 and the elections for President in the next.

The Embassy widely opened its doors for the visitors - ambassadors, politicians, clergymen, cultural figures, journalists. The attention of them allwas attracted by the virtuoso performance of the "BIS-kvit" Chamber Orchestra. It played popular Russian and international tunes like "Italian Polka" from C. Rachmaninoff and "Barcarolle" from Tchaikovsky, the Russian folk song "Boots" and the Bulgarian one "Katerino mome", the beloved by many "Ladybird" (Kalinka) and "Darkie" (Smuglyanka) on folk instruments. So far, the ensemble has made over 2,500 concerts in more than 60 countries around the world. For its merits in the promotion of Russian spiritual heritage, it received the title "Ambassador of Russian Culture".

On the next evening, "BIS-kvit" performed on the stage of the Sofia Opera and Ballet, where, together with soloists at the Mariinski Theater, they presented works by A. Borodin, M. Glinka, J. Puccini, J. Bise and other Russian and world classics and reaped tremendous success. With this, the Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Bulgaria were opened.

The photos are provided by the press service of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Above: H E. Pr. Mr. Anatoly Makarov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Bulgaria, addressed the guests with a welcome speech.

Below: The reception was attended by His Holiness Neophyte, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan Bishop of Sofia, Vice-President Iliana Yotova, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Mr. Krassimir Karakachanov, the Minister of Energy Mrs. Temenuzhka Petkova. The "BIS-kvit" Chamber Orchestra charmed all the guests.