Hristo Botev and his legacy 150 years later – paying respect in Austria

"There is no power over that head that is ready to separate from its shoulders in the name of freedom and for the good of the entire fatherland"…. At exactly 12 o'clock, every year on June 2, in Bulgaria, the wail of sirens reminds of the feat of Hristo Botev and those who died for the freedom of Bulgaria.

"Hristo Botev is not just a historical figure whose name is inscribed in the pantheon of Bulgarian national honour. He is a titanic symbol of the Bulgarian spirit, in which poetry, journalism and life's feat merge into one indissoluble and blazing whole. In his work, freedom ceases to be simply a political category or a striving for national independence. It becomes the only possible form of existence for a worthy person..." This is what Bulgarian studies student at the University of Vienna, Ebru Ahmed, writes in an essay dedicated to the Bulgarian national hero, poet and journalist. With this text, he participated in the competition of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Austria for best student in Bulgarian studies. On the eve of the Day of Hristo Botev and those who died for the freedom of Bulgaria, the text was read during a ceremony in front of the only monument to the Bulgarian national hero in Austria - the one in the VIP-Park of the town of Gols. It was presented by Galina Ninova, First Secretary at the Embassy of Bulgaria:

"In the 1300-year history of Bulgaria, there have been many periods of trials, but Botev is the one who most clearly formulates the price of human dignity. His cry for authenticity, for life without masks and for fidelity to one's own ideal is more relevant than ever. In the era of modern loneliness in the crowd and spiritual disorientation, Botev reminds us that a person is free only when they are ready to stake everything in the name of truth. He turns his personal tragedy into a universal message that continues to excite because it poses the eternal questions about meaning, choice and the power of the human spirit. Botev is not just an author from the past, he is the conscience of the nation, which always asks us: What did you do with your freedom?"

150 years since the death of Hristo Botev – 150 years of immortality

"June 2nd is a day when we remember the immortality of Botev's feat and his legacy," Bulgarian Ambassador Desislava Naydenova-Gospodinova told the Bulgarians and representatives of the administration of the Austrian municipality of Gols.

"This is the only monument to Botev on the territory of the Republic of Austria, where Bulgarians from all over Austria, but also from neighbouring countries, have been gathering for nearly 30 years to mark this day."

"Such memorable places and the personalities who contributed to our freedom today are important unifying symbols for Bulgarians abroad," said the head of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, Raina Mandzhukova. She expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian Cultural and Educational Organization "Cyril and Methodius" in Vienna for organizing this ceremony for paying respect every year for decades and presented a special certificate of appreciation to its chairman Boycho Damyanov.

Representatives of Bulgarian organizations from more than 10 countries, who were among the participants in a two-day seminar in Vienna, dedicated to organizational aspects of the life of Bulgarian communities abroad, paid respect to the feat of Hristo Botev and those who died for the freedom of Bulgarians.

"150 years ago, on the evening of June 1, Hristo Botev entered his immortality," Bulgarian language teacher in Paris, Rumyana Shibileva, told us. His testaments echo in the thoughts and deeds of our compatriots around the world today:

Kamelia Triboulin-Konaktchieva, head of a Bulgarian school in Paris:

"We must learn to be human beings first, then Bulgarians, then patriots."

Vladislav Marinov, representative of the Bulgarian student community in the Netherlands:

"Botev's example, which we probably follow in life, is to fight for our goals. But these are goals that are not only in personal interest, but in common interest. As Bulgarians, we are quite united by the fact that we come from one homeland, but it is very important not to forget that we belong to communities, we belong to Bulgaria, and accordingly - we must follow this bright example that personal and common goals must overlap in order to be happier in our earthly life."

Daniel Dimov, chairman of German-Bulgarian association in Düsseldorf:

"Sometimes change comes from outside Bulgaria, and I hope that such people serve as an example to all of us and that we continue to work on making Bulgaria better than before."

Mariola Georgieva, head of a Bulgarian school in Italy:

"Botev's legacy is to believe in ourselves, to be strong, to be free and to believe in the future."

Gencho Banev, lecturer in Bulgarian language at the University of Athens:

"The testament of Botev that I profess in my life today? Mainly the testament of unity and the fraternal union that he speaks of, which ensures that we overcome all kinds of hardships."

Aneta Geranlieva, teacher at a Bulgarian Sunday school in Vienna:

"For me Botev is a role model and I am glad that my children have inherited a large part of his qualities. I try to present him in the Bulgarian school as I would like my students to be like him."