Bulgaria marks 117 years since the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising

On August 19, Bulgaria marks 117 years since the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising.

As part of the tradition, dozens of citizens gathered in the Petrova Niva area near Malko Turnovo, South Eastern Bulgaria. Due to the pandemic this year, the traditional fair and the fireworks display were cancelled. The official guest of the celebrations today was Vice President Iliana Yotova.

A prayer service was held in memoriam and later wreaths and flowers were laid in front of the memorial dedicated to those who died in the uprising.

Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising of August 1903 was an organized revolt against the Ottoman Empire, which was prepared and carried out by the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization. The name of the uprising refers to Ilinden, a name for Elijah's day, and to Preobrazhenie which means Transfiguration. The revolt lasted from the beginning of August to the middle of October and covered a vast territory from the eastern Black Sea coast to the shores of Lake Ohrid.