On April 15, 2015, on the eve of the Constitution Day of Bulgaria, the fully renovated 272 Lecture Theatre at the Rectorate Building of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” was officially opened.
The event was attended by His Holiness Neofit, Patriarch of Bulgaria, Ms. Tsetska Tsacheva, Chairperson of the National Assembly, Mr. Yavor Haytov, Deputy Chairperson of the National Assembly, Mr. Hristo Ivanov, Minister of Justice, Mr. Dimitur Tokoushev, Chairperson of the Constitutional Court, Mr. Lozan Panov, Chairperson of the Supreme Court of Cassation, Mr. Konstantin Penchev, Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Vladislav Slavov, Chairperson of the Union of Jurists, members of the Supreme Judicial Council, Ms. Ralitsa Negentsova, Chairperson of the Supreme Bar Council, Mr. Krasimir Katrandzhiev, Chairperson of the Notary Chamber, Members of Parliament, constitutional judges, judges at the Supreme Administrative Court, judges at the Supreme Court of Cassation, faculty and students from the Faculty of Law, members of academia.
The official ceremony was opened by Professor Dr. Sasho Penov, Dean of the Faculty of Law. He welcomed all the guests and drew their attention to the emblematic significance of Lecture Theatre 272 to Sofia University. “This lecture theatre is the biggest one, packed with memories of students from our Alma Mater who were taught here. It is the venue where the most numerous University admission examinations take place, where the academic years are opened, and where University degrees are conferred. Generations of faculty have taught from this rostrum. Many friendships started here; falling in love took place here, too; creative ideas were also born here, and both many a success and failure were experienced here, too.”
Professor Penov recounted to the audience the first steps of the total renovation of Lecture Theatre 272 which took place during the celebrations of the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the Faculty of Law and the enthusiasm of many people from the legal profession and their organizations to support the initiative: the Supreme Bar Council, the Notary Chamber, the Chamber of Private Enforcement Agents. “All members of the legal profession lent their support. Says Professor Penov, “They showed real generosity. And generosity is real only when its agent observes three conditions: they give without any ulterior thoughts, they are patient, and they have no misgivings about the initiative.”
The biggest donation, the size of 1 200 000 levas, was given by the “America for Bulgaria” Foundation. The “120 Years of Faculty of Law at Sofia University”, established in 2012 on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the Faculty of Law at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, managed to raise more than 150 000 levas in donations from former alumni and alumnae, faculty, and business companies. Sofia University also joined the initiative with 150 000 levas.
The “America for Bulgaria” Foundation provided the architectural measurement drawings and the conceptual blueprints of the Lecture Theatre and the foyer prepared by Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership Team, New York. The authors of the final project for the total renovation of Lecture Theatre 272 are the team of architects from ZOOM ARCHITECTURE STUDIO, Ltd.
Renovation work started on July 4, 2014. The main contractors were “ISA 2000’’, Co., “Aktiv Sofia ” LTD., and “Tangra AV” Co. The subcontractors were “Mondo Bulgaria” Co. and “Niraleks”, Ltd.
The project for the total reconstruction was based on both a detailed analysis of the historical background of Lecture Theatre 272 and the vision of the University authorities for its future. The preservation of the spirit of the Lecture Theatre by keeping its distinctive elements, spatial configuration, and the construction materials was among the major principles in the allocation of space. All the old wiring was completely reinstalled to meet modern regulations and the functional space was enriched. New high tech multimedia equipment has been provided.
On July 24, 2013, Professor Dr. Habil Ivan Ilchev, Rector of the University, Professor Sasho Penov, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Chairperson of the “120 Years of the Faculty of Law at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski””, together with the Ms. Desislava Talyokova, Executive Director of the “America for Bulgaria” Foundation signed an agreement for the renovation and refurbishment of Lecture Theatre 272, the place where thousands of Sofia University graduates have received their academic training.
Thus, 63 years after the first opening of Lecture Theatre 272, the latter has turned into a modern lecture theatre serving fully the present needs of the whole of academia at Sofia University.
“It is my deep conviction that universities owe their reputation both to their faculty and to the gratitude of their alumni and alumnae. It is not a mere chance that the big academic centres of our time have substantial funding assets at their disposal, donated by their alumni. That is why the initiative for the renovation of Lecture Theatre 272 has another objective, too: to serve as a reminder that without continuity of the generations, without acts of generosity that serve the needs of education, it is impossible to build up a heritage that will safeguard the consolidation of the humane values of our times. For I am sure that everyone who has entered this Lecture Theatre for the first time must have had dreams, and it is education that has facilitated the fulfillment of the latter.” Professor Sasho Penev adds. He thanked most warmly the donors and all those who participated in the undertaking, and also observed that following the steps of the two brothers, Evlogi and Hristo Georgiev, the donors’ act will remain exemplary for the future generations.
In the presence and with the blessing of His Holiness Neofit, Patriarch of Bulgaria, the auxiliary bishop of the Patriarch Grigoriy, Bishop of Branichevo, archimandrite Gerasim, first secretary of the Holy Synod, and Rev. Angel Angelov, Rev. Kiril Popov and protodeacon Ivan Petkov consecrated the renovated Lecture Theatre
His Holiness Patriarch Neofit congratulated all present with the resurrection of Our Lord and added that the magnificent look of the Lecture Theatre leaves everyone full of admiration and pride. He expressed his deep belief that that will all contribute to the improvement of the process of teaching and facilitate the process of creativity of both students and lecturers.
Says His Holiness, “To the young people, the future people of law in this country, we shall wish: seek the truth, do not forget the words of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who says “The Truth will make you free.” Stand up for that Truth and remain the champions of Truth in that sinful world. Be Man-loving and God-loving and then you shall be worthy followers and defenders of the One, Who was the way, the truth and the life, Christ in His glorious resurrection. Amen.” Patriarch Neofit also expressed his gratitude to all alumni and alumnae of the Faculty of Law at Sofia University for their support of the activities of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
The Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Professor Dr. Habil Ivan Ilchev, Rector of Sofia University, remarked on the fact that there is hardly anyone present who does not have good memories connected with Lecture Theatre 272 and added that, after the Aula Magna Lecture Theatre 272 comes second in terms of its emblematic nature in Alma Mater. He was pleased to say that the initiative that was undertaken by the Faculty of Law for the complete renovation of Lecture Theatre 272 has transformed the latter into the best high tech lecture theatre in the country.
Professor Ilchev recalled the fact that almost eight years ago, in the very same Lecture Theatre, he talked about some of the improvements that he had in mind to be carried out in the University. One of them was to let light into it, so that it will become a University full of sunshine, i.e. shining not only with the ideas propagated in it and the intellect of its academic faculty and students but also shining as a lighthouse-symbol of Bulgaria.
Professor Ilchev congratulated his colleagues from the Faculty of Law on being always in the vanguard position among the faculties in the country on all national ratings. He thanked the architects and the construction workers of the Lecture Theatre and the Dean of the Faculty of Law. The Rector expressed also his genuine gratitude to all colleagues who supported the initiative that the University should become literally a place of light and pointed out that if we persist putting new wine into old wineskins, we shall not make any progress in the future.
Professor Ilchev thanked the “America for Bulgaria” Foundation which has done so much for Sofia University recently. He pointed to the fact that the sum invested in the renovation of Lecture Theatre 272 that the University received from the Foundation equals the sum that the government allots to capital investment at the University for two years.
The Rector mentioned some other donations made to Sofia University: recently a donation has been made, the size of 240 000 levas worth of purchasing computers and microscopes for the needs of the Faculty of Geology and Geography; several banks and investors funded the renovation of lecture theatres at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, the Faculty of Physics, the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, and the Faculty of Philosophy.
Professor Ilchev stressed that not only does Sofia University play an educational role but it also has a cultural mission to cultivate people of knowledge and culture. “I would like to think that the best of the young people in this country will sit for their entrance exam in this Lecture Theatre and, subsequently, become our best students, similarly to those who, several months ago, won top prizes at law competitions in various places in Europe, and that in this Lecture Theatre, as His Holiness has just pointed out, free individuals will be educated. Dear colleagues, I wish you every further success!”
Ms. Desislava Talyokova, Executive Director of the “America for Bulgaria” Foundation, did not concealing her emotions, and, on behalf of the Foundation and as a Sofia University alumna, she said: “There is something beautiful, almost majestic, when people sharing the same views join their efforts in the name of a noble cause. Lecture Theatre 272 can serve as an excellent example of this.” She conveyed her genuine gratitude to all institutions and people who contributed to the successful completion of the difficult project: the Rector, the members of the Faculty of Law and personally its Dean, all the construction workers and architects, and, mostly, the donors. She wished that the Lecture Theatre would be taken good care of by its custodians.
Says Ms. Talyokova: “We, the representatives of the Foundation, deeply believe that investment in knowledge is the best investment in the future of Bulgaria. We also believe that the spirit of negativism and inertness is a bad substitute for an active social position like the donor’s. This is why we have set a goal to revive, with our own personal example, the tradition of donorship in this country so that other valuable and noble undertakings can be realized, too. I truly wish you bon voyage on your road to the future exultation of knowledge in the newly ‘revived’ Lecture Theatre 272.”
Presentation focusing on the Constitution Day of the Republic of Bulgaria was given by Nina Peneva, an undergraduate member of the Club for Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law. During the presentation the technological facilities of the Lecture Theatre were demonstrated.
At the end of the ceremony awards were presented to distinguished students from the Faculty of Law at the University.
Mr. Vasil Tashev, Manager of the SIBI Publishing House, gave the traditional award of the publishing house for excellent academic achievements in the domain of the legal science to Tsvetelina Bayraktarova, a Vth year law student, and wished her to keep always alive her sense of scientific curiosity.
Mr. Veselin Todorov, Manager of the Siela Publishing House, gave the award to the Faculty of Law team, who, a month ago, came third in a European Union law competition which took place under the aegis of the EU Court in Greece: Simeon Vachev, Teodora Laleva, Agapiya Kirilova and Stanimir Kouchev, and their academic supervisor Dr. Ivan Stoynev.
