The celebrations were officially opened by Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov, Vice-Rector. Before giving the floor to the President, Prof. Gerdzhikov reminded that, while the Church more and more rarely celebrates different saints who have rather mythological features, the deeds of the Sts Cyril and Methodius are found described in a number of resources in different languages. As a philologist, he also stated that it is easy to think of a number of signs, but establishing an alphabet and identifying the language structure is quite different. Cyril was ready to give away his personal issues and to pursue cultural and spiritual goals for the peoples. In such days, we have to remember the spiritual: Have we lost our spiritual goals or we have been pursuing them?

The President, Mr Plevneliev, continued by urging the audience to open their hearts for the past, when acknowledging the deeds of the holy brothers started even by the very deeds of their students. Not only were the Slavonic writing and culture spread out, but also the right of each people to develop culture of its own language was kept.

The celebration programme dedicated to the 1150th anniversary of the Great Moravian Mission of St. Cyril and St. Methodius shows the ambition to preserve the traditions, to treasure the values and remember the people who have shaped through the centuries the face of Bulgaria today.