In brief
On Thursday, October 29, Turkey celebrated its 103rd Republic Day with congratulatory messages from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and NATO allies. Meanwhile, Bulgaria observed Bessarabian Bulgarians’ Day, honoring the 1838 consecration of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Bolhrad, Ukraine, with concerts, exhibitions and academic conferences across Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine.
In Istanbul and across Europe and the Middle East, October 29 marked Turkey’s 103rd Republic Day and the celebration of Bessarabian Bulgarians’ Day, a holiday that honours the first major Orthodox church built by Bulgarian settlers in present‑day Ukraine.
The Republic Day, formally celebrated on the date Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed the Republic in 1923, was marked by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s own post‑holiday remarks and a series of congratulatory messages from key foreign leaders.
From Abu Dhabi, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a cable congratulating President Erdoğan, with his messages echoing the tone of the UAE’s diplomatic partnership with Turkey. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, the Vice President, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, also dispatched similar messages from their own residences.
In Riyadh, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al‑Saud sent a personal cable wishing President Erdoğan good health and steady progress for Turkey. The royalty’s gesture underscored a friendly diplomatic relationship between Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
High‑level NATO commands around the world joined the celebrations. NATO headquarters in Brussels and all its allied commands posted social‑media messages and images of Turkish naval and air forces, respectively. The Allied Maritime Command showcased photographs of Turkish warships sailing through the Istanbul Strait, while the Allied Air Command highlighted a Turkish Star aerobatic team jet. The Allied Land Command in Izmir, the Allied Special Operations Forces headquarters, and the Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum and Norfolk each shared greetings expressing solidarity and wishing Turkey a happy Republic Day.
Concurrently, in Bulgaria, the Government Office of the Ministry of Culture noted the observance of Bessarabian Bulgarians’ Day, a holiday established by Dimitar Todorov, Secretary General of the All‑Bulgarian Union Father Paisius, to honor the 1838 consecration of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Bolhrad, present‑day Ukraine. The Cathedral, the first major Orthodox church built by Bulgarian settlers using their own funds and labour, was cared for by more than 10,000 people.
Bessarabian Bulgarians’ Day celebrations took place in several locations in Bulgaria, as well as in Moldova and Ukraine. Concerts, exhibitions, cultural events and academic conferences highlighted the community’s contribution to the cultural and historical development of Bulgaria. The tradition of celebrating the holiday had been interrupted after the Second World War and was officially revived in the late 20th century by the Rodolyubets cultural association, which promotes ties between Bessarabian and Tavrian Bulgarians.
Long‑standing historical milestones for the Bulgarian people also bear commemorative weight on the same date. In 1838 the Transfiguration Church in Bolhrad was consecrated, and the site of its construction involved a massive collective effort among settlers. In 1886 Prince Valdemar of Denmark was elected Prince of Bulgaria but declined the throne in the wake of Russian opposition. In 2003 the Bulgarian Socialist Party became a full member of the Socialist International. Two years later, in the 2006 presidential elections, the tandem of Georgi Parvanov and Angel Marin secured victory by receiving 75.95 % of the votes, leading to the second term for President Parvanov and Vice‑President Marin. In 2007 Bulgaria adopted a local version of the euro, “evro,” for use in EU documents.
The day’s observances provide a reminder of how the same date can carry distinct meanings: for Turkey, a solemn celebration of national sovereignty and for Bulgaria, a tribute to the diaspora’s cultural legacy.
