Opening of the Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture at the Institute of Philology at Kiev National University "Taras Shevchenko"

On May 26th, at the Institute for Philology Studies at the Kiev National University "Taras Shevchenko" the Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture was opened on a high academic and diplomatic level. Guests at the ceremony were Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mrs. Margarita Popova, the Prorector of the international activities, Prof. Petro Bech, HE Mr. Krasimir Minchev - Ambassador of Bulgaria in Ukraine, Director of the Institute for Philology Studies, Prof. Gregory Semenyuk, Mr. Anton Kisse, member of the Parliament of Ukraine and President of the Association of Bulgarians in Ukraine, Head of the Department for Slavic Studies Prof. Olga Palamarchuk, teachers and Bulgarian language students, various academic and public institutions’ representatives.

Professor Petro Beh brought a welcome speech on behalf of the Rector of the Kiev National University "Taras Shevchenko". He assured that the Kiev National University leadership would support the work of the newly established Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture in any way and would assist the exchange of students and teachers in the field of education and science between Ukraine and Bulgaria. Prof. Beh thanked Bulgarian Embassy in Ukraine on behalf of the Kiev National University for the creation of an authoritative center for Bulgarian science, culture and spirituality in Kiev.

Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mrs Margarita Popova expressed her great joy and satisfaction with the opening of the Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture at the Kiev University and emphasized the strategic role of Bulgarian studies for the development of Slavic studies nowadays. Mrs. Popova focused on the words "Language, Literature and Culture", on which the name of the Center was grounded. "These concepts cannot exist without one another. In their unity they are fundamental in the spiritual and material construction of each nation and state", she said. After cutting the red tape and the official opening, Mrs Margarita Popova gave as a gift the sign of the "Madara Horseman", a cultural and historical symbol of the Bulgarian establishment as also the book "Bulgarian Monasteries."

Efforts and difficulties in establishing the Center were recalled by HE Ambassador Mr. Kr.Minchev. In his speech he drew attention to the act of giving and sponsorship and emphasized the special role of Mr. Anton Kisse in the realization of the Bulgarian idea in Kiev. Mr. Minchev thank the teachers and students for their interest and love for Bulgaria and their success in teaching and learning Bulgarian language and culture.

Director of the Institute for Philology Studies Professor Gregory Semenyuk recalled that Bulgarian language and literature were studied at the Kiev National University for 150 years, in one form or another, and stressed that this year the Department for Slavic Studies celebrated the 40th anniversary of the "Bulgarian language and literature" specialty establishment. On behalf of the Faculty for Bulgarian Studies Assos. Prof. Olena Chmir recalled key moments in the history of Bulgarian Studies in the Kiev National University, underlining that the Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture appeared quite naturally in the eve of the 40th anniversary of the specialty. “Center’s building is not only a recognition of the success of Bulgarian Studies at the University, but also a responsibility and a creative impulse for future work”, she said.

Lecturer in Bulgarian language, literature and culture at the Kiev National University, Assos. Prof. Marietta Ivanova-Girginova emphasized the role of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Institute for Literature at BAS in the administration of the newly opened Center. "The creation of the Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture opens a future cooperation between the Kiev National University and the Department for Slavic Studies in particular and a new partner as BAS and the Institute for Literature", she said. Assos. Prof. Girginova sent special welcome words for the opening of the Center by the Director of the Institute for Literature, Assos.Prof. Elka Traykova and underlined the Institutes’ leadership confidence in the cooperation between the two institutions which was yet to give its fruits. It would make the Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture not only a prestigious educational center, but also an attractive center of an active international academic and cultural activities..Assos. Prof.Girginova announced the first major donation of scientific collections, monographs, scientific books and periodicals, made by "Boyan Penev" Publishing center at the Institute for Literature.

The joy, the hopes and the expectations of the opening of the Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture were shared by the master students Kostya Kurlukov and Nastya Solovitska.

With a short musical and artistic program Bulgarian language students, bachelors and masters greeted Bulgarian and foreign guests and showed their success in studying Bulgarian language, literature and culture.

The celebration ended with a look through the unique "Treasure of Words" exhibition, worked out by Prof. Anisava Miltenova and Assos. Prof. Maria Yovcheva, aided by specialists in Medieval Studies at the Institute for Literature. The exhibition visited the Institute for Philology Studies at the Kiev National University in connection with the Day of the Slavic apostles - May 24th and 1150th anniversary of the Great Moravian mission of Cyril and Methodius. The exhibition is a special gift from BAS and IL to the newly opened Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture.

The idea of the Center for Bulgarian Literature, Language and Culture founders is to make it a House of language, literature and culture on Kiev land, to strengthen and expand the authority of Bulgarian Studies in Ukraine and to activate the educational, scientific and cultural management between the two countries.

May 28, 2013
Kiev

The following link provides information of the Kiev National University press center for the opening of the Center for Bulgarian Language, Literature and Culture:
http://instpres.univ.kiev.ua/node/391