On the occasion of Slovakia’s national holiday - the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius - on June 25, H. E. Mr. Vasil Grivna,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria, hosted a reception at the Slovak Embassy. The event was attended by official representatives, ambassadors, members of cultural institutions, business companies and the media, Slovak citizens living in Bulgaria, and friends of Slovakia.

In his speech, H. E. Mr. Vasil Grivna stated that Slovakia has several national holidays, but the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius holds particular importance, as the work of the Holy Brothers is fundamental to the Slovak national identity. Continued by their disciples, this legacy closely connects our nations. Referring to the recent passing of Pope Francis, His Excellency recalled the fact that the funeral procession passed by the Basilica of San Clemente, where Constantine - who took the monastic name Cyril before his death - is buried. The Pope was laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Adrian II proclaimed Old Church Slavonic as the fourth liturgical language, after Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.

Further in his address, in the current context of Bulgaria’s accession to the Eurozone, Ambassador Grivna emphasized that just as Slovakia supported Bulgaria’s entry into the Schengen Area, it now supports its accession to the Eurozone.

At the end of his speech, H. E. Mr. Vasil Grivna announced that the term of the embassy’s First Secretary, Mr. Daniel Orszag, is coming to an end, and he extended special thanks to him for his dedicated work and support.

Following the ambassador’s speech, the guests had the opportunity to view a specially arranged lace exhibition in the embassy’s foyer titled "The Bridge That Connects Us", curated for Bulgaria by Mrs. Bistra Pisancheva.

Afterward, everyone enjoyed traditional Slovak cuisine and beverages, engaging in lively and friendly conversations.

Photos courtesy of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in the Republic of Bulgaria. Top photo (from right to left): H. E. Mr. Vasil Grivna, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria; Mr. Daniel Orszag, First Secretary at the Embassy, and his wife Mrs. Zuzana Orszagova; Mrs. Andrea Vavrikova, Second Secretary; and Mrs. Edita Blagoeva, Honorary Consul of Slovakia in Varna