Kyustendil Marks 123rd Anniversary of Ilinden‑Preobrazhenie Uprising

Kyustendil commemorated the 123th anniversary of the Ilinden‑Preobrazhenie uprising with a formal ceremony at the monument to Todor Alexandrov. Mayor Ognyan Atanasov and municipal officials laid wreaths, observed a minute of silence, and highlighted the city’s historic role as a staging ground for revolutionary bands and a refuge for thousands of Bulgarian refugees after the 1903 revolt.

The celebration continued with a concert by the Gotsé Delchev Ensemble on Velbzhd Square, featuring traditional songs and dances. Nearby border village Gyueshevo also hosted a folk evening, including performances by the “Prosveeta 1921” reading club. Organizers emphasized the uprising’s lasting symbolic importance for Bulgarian national freedom and unity.