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Our mission is to make the voice of ancient Slavic culture, Bulgarian studies and the Bulgarian language heard louder in the world, says the head of state at the International Forum on the Cyrillic Alphabet "Spiritual Heritage in the Digital Age", organized on her initiative.

 

The Cyrillic alphabet, born in Bulgaria, undoubtedly has its future in the digital age. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova, who inaugurated the third International Forum on the Cyrillic Alphabet "Spiritual Heritage in the Digital Age" in Sofia today.

 

The event was organized by the head of state and is under the auspices of the National Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria for UNESCO, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education and Science and the support of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. This year's forum is attended by scholars from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Bulgarian universities, as well as authoritative lecturers from Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Kazakhstan, and China. The topics of the reports concern the alphabet wars in the Slavic world, the language of the media, and the digitisation of old printed publications in the 21st century. The conference also included two twelfth-graders from the National High School for Ancient Languages and Cultures, who presented their views on the Cyrillic alphabet and artificial intelligence. The forum expands the geographical scope of the debates with studies on the Cyrillic alphabet in China and on the modern Cyrillic script among Turkic-speaking peoples.

 

In her address to the participants and guests of the forum, President Iotova emphasised the importance of words and speech. The words we utter chart our path to each other, we communicate with them, they shape our world and worldview, and through them, we love and fight, pointed out Iliana Iotova. Words connect the centuries, she also stated. With the written word, humanity does not forget its past and draws its future. The same words have served us since the origins of our statehood, until today, when we again use the ubiquitous words to talk to artificial intelligence, added the head of state.

 

Some time ago, we set out to return the topic of Bulgarian studies to the agenda of Bulgaria and globally, noted President Iotova and recalled the first two editions of the conference on the Cyrillic alphabet, which she initiated as Vice President. In 2022, the forum “… And we have given something to the world” took place. The highlight of the event, which brought together prominent scholars from 12 countries, was the contribution of the Bulgarian state to the creation and spread of the Cyrillic alphabet and to its mission to connect the East and the West. The second International Forum on the Cyrillic alphabet “Alphabet. Language. Identity”, held in 2024, focused on the importance of the Slavic heritage, its preservation and spread in the modern world, as well as the key role of Bulgaria in the creation of the third Christian civilisation – the Slavic one. Over 30 renowned Slavic scholars from 11 countries and Bulgaria participated in the conference, which took place in Sofia and Plovdiv. Today's third forum is the most serious refutation of the demise of the Cyrillic alphabet, which some wickedly and unscrupulously predict.

 

Iliana Iotova highlighted the importance of the organised forums. We are guided by the memory and traditions of the Bulgarian soul, we have accepted it as our mission in blood and conscience to the first teachers – St. Cyril and Methodius, to their students, Equal-to-the-Apostles Clement, Naum, Gorazd, Angelarii, she said, emphasising that the voice of ancient Slavic culture must be heard loudly, the voice of Bulgarian studies and the Bulgarian language must be heard around the world. More than ever, we need to talk about their invaluable spiritual heritage, and through it, about our future, the president added. Our concern is to preserve the Bulgarian language and Bulgarian studies. To develop and popularise them, especially now, when the digital world connects us in seconds, the head of state also said in her greeting.

 

Our proud legacy from the glorious almost 14-century history of Bulgaria is the alphabet and the language, President Iotova pointed out, adding that they distinguish us. Language is our privilege, that priceless stone that we must protect, she also stated. Iliana Iotova recalled the essential role of the Bulgarian state in Europe. The Cyrillic alphabet was born here in the 9th and 10th centuries from the saved work of the disciples of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius. It not only served to translate church books into an understandable language, but also formed all subsequent writing, literature and freedom of expression, the President pointed out. That is why, in her words, the mission of spreading the historical truth that Bulgaria is the homeland and guardian of the sacred Cyrillic alphabet is extremely important. That for us, Bulgarians, it is the basis of the language, our ancestral memory and our national identity. And for Europe, Asia and the world, it has made a significant contribution both to authentic Slavic literature and to coexistence and respect for cultural diversity. The President pointed out that the International Forum does not build barriers, but shows how important it is to respect diversity, because it is a wealth.

 

Letters, writing, literacy most strongly express humanity in a world of long-standing conflicts and wars. It is not only a value, but also a vital need, emphasised Iliana Iotova. The President also highlighted the international participation in the event, pointing out that it shows that respect for the culture of identity in a global world, the special sense of sovereignty are alive. Today, the world needs eternal values, in the name of which we can find agreement and, most importantly, meaning for the coming centuries, Iliana Iotova also said.

 

The head of state pointed out that this year marks 1080 years since the ascension of St. John of Rila, the Heavenly Patron of the Bulgarians. That is why the second day of the international conference will be held precisely in the Rila Monastery. She also noted that in 2026 the 120th anniversary of the birth of Academician Dmitry Likhachev - the famous Soviet humanist, who got to know the basics of Slavic culture and placed Bulgarian literature on the highest pedestal in world literature. Culture - these are the sacred things of the people and the nation. It is fragile, protect it, the president quoted his words.

 

Greetings within the framework of the official opening of the International Forum for the Cyrillic Alphabet "Spiritual Heritage in the Digital Age" were delivered by the acting Ministers of Education and Science Sergey Ignatov and of Culture Naiden Todorov, the President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member Doctor of Science in Chemistry Evelina Slavcheva, and the Director of the National Library "St. Cyril and Methodius" Assoc. Prof Dr Kalina Ivanova.

 

Two exhibitions - An Author's Screen Vision of the Spiritual Heritage in the "Homeland of the Cyrillic Alphabet" and a photo collection for the prestigious world stage of the National Palace of Culture, which this year celebrates its 45th anniversary, accompanied the first day of the international forum, which took place in Hall 6 of the National Palace of Culture.

 

Media partners of the event are the Bulgarian National Television, the Bulgarian National Radio and the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.