Opening of the exhibition Treasures of Bulgarian Icons
On May 11, 2009, the religious holiday of the Saint Brothers Cyril and Methodius, the exhibition Treasures of Bulgarian Icons opened in the Château de Vincennes near Paris under the auspices of the Presidents of Bulgaria and France, Mr Georgi Parvanov and Mr Nicolas Sarkozi, as well as of Ambassador Irina Bokova.
The exhibition is dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the establishing of diplomatic relations between the two countries and was organised by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Centre for National Monuments of France.
The exhibition, which will be in France until August 30, 2009, comprises 80 icons, as well as medieval manuscripts and church plate. A delegation of the Ministry of Culture arrived in Paris for the opening, led by Deputy Minister Ivan Tokadjiev, who greeted the guests on behalf of Stefan Danailov, Minister of Culture. Mrs Isabelle Lemesle, President of the Centre for National Monuments, delivered a welcome address on behalf of the French hosts. The opening of the exhibition was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, by high-ranking administration officials and members of the diplomatic corps, as well as by French and Bulgarian intellectuals. The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was represented by Metropolitan Cyril, Archbishop of Varna and Veliki Preslav. Distinguished representatives of the Bulgarian media were also present at the event.
The May 11 religious holiday of the Saint Brothers Cyril and Methodius ended with a concert of Orthodox choral at the Madeleine Church in the centre of Paris. It was performed by the “Ivan Rilski” Choir, under the baton of Koicho Atanassov. In her address to the audience, Ambassador Irina Bokova emphasised the importance of the two significant cultural events which took place on that day as an illustration of the cultural traditions and spirit of the Bulgarian nation, as well as their role within the framework of the cultural dialogue between Bulgaria and France.