IX WORLD CONFERENCE OF GARIBALDI LODGES OCTOBER 2018 SOFIA - BULGARIA PROGRAM

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1 IX WORLD CONFERENCE OF GARIBALDI LODGES OCTOBER 2018 SOFIA - BULGARIA PROGRAM 4 October 2018 Thursday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm - registration at hotel Marinela - ( Accreditation of guests and distribution of printed materials and souvenirs related the conference to all the participants. 5 October 2018 Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm - registration at hotel Marinela 11:00 am - for everyone wishing to visit and explore the sights of the Capital, will be provided a bus and guides, speaking the required languages according to the nationality of the attendees. St. Sofia Church The church St. Sofia (God s Wisdom) is situated in the center of Bulgaria s capital, in close proximity to the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It is one of the oldest churches in Sofia and its history is closely related to the history of the city. Nowadays the temple is considered as one of the symbols of Sofia. The church was built in the 6th century during the time of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian (reigned ) on the foundations of 4 older Christian temples from the 4th century, on the place of the necropolis of the city of Serdika (the old name of Sofia). During the period of the 11th 14th century it was a metropolitan church and its glory was so great that in the 14th century it gave its name to the city.in the 16th century during the Ottoman Dominion the temple was reconstructed into a mosque, and its wall paintings were destroyed. Currently the appearance of the temple is as close as possible to its authentic look from the late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. The revolutionary Vasil Levski ( ) was hung in close proximity to the temple. Behind the church lies the grave of the great Bulgarian writer Ivan Vazov ( ) and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier also. 1

2 St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral The cathedral temple St. Alexander Nevski is considered a symbol of the Bulgarian capital. It is located in the center of Sofia, at the eponymous square. The reflection of its golden domes attracts attention from miles away. The temple was built in honor of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, also known as the King Liberator, whose army liberated Bulgaria of the five-century long Ottoman Dominion in St. Alexander Nevsky, whose name the cathedral bears, was a Russian prince (lived ) a great military commander and diplomat. He is a saint, patron of the Russian Emperor Alexander II and a symbol of the Russian military glory. The foundation stone was laid on 19 February 1882, but the construction began later in The temple was completed in 1912, and was sanctified in The building covers an area of 3,170 square meters and can accommodate up to 5,000 people. The whole building was lined with white Vratsa stones; the entrance doors were made of Slavonian oak. The domes of the temple are covered with gold. The bell tower is 53 meters high and has 12 bells, the heaviest of them weighing 12 tons, and the smallest one - 10 kg. Their ringing can be heard from a radius of 15 kilometers. The temple interior is unique it impresses with its magnificent marble decorations, with its mural paintings and 82 icons, made by Bulgarian, Russian and Czech artists. The marble iconostasis, the royal and patriarchal thrones and the pulpit are of greatest interest for the visitors of the temple. Another valuable item is the mosaic mural of King Ferdinand (ruled ) and Queen Eleanor. The crypt is located in the basement of the church it has a collection of icons, where visitors can see many masterpieces of the iconic art paintings. Nowadays St. Alexander Nevsky is the second largest Orthodox cathedral on the Balkans. Sofia Synagogue The largest Sephardic (Spanish Jewish) synagogue in Europe is situated in Sofia on the corner of the streets Ekzarh Yosif and G. Washington. This is the only Jewish house of prayer in Sofia. The Sofia Synagogue is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments in Bulgaria. Its building was finished in The royal family king Ferdinand (reigned ) and queen Eleonora attended its sanctification.the temple consists of a central domed building and a narthex. The prayer hall is in an octagonal shape. The prayer room for the women is situated over the niches. The main chandelier weights two tons and is the biggest one in Bulgaria. An altar, surrounded by a beautiful railing, stands on a platform of white marble. 2

3 Serdika Ancient Fortress Sofia The remains of the ancient fortress Serdika are presented in the underpass between the Presidency building and the Council of Ministers in Sofia City. The town of Serdika or Serdnopolis was founded 2,000 years BC by the Thracian tribe Serdi, who settled in the region around the hot mineral springs. In the 1st century AD the town was conquered by the Romans, who appreciated the important and strategic location and the mineral springs. During the reign of emperor Mark Ulpius Trayan (98 117), in his honor the town was called Ulpia Serdika and was turned into a center of the administrative area. Serdika was the favorite town of the Roman emperor Konstantin the Great ( ), who loved to say Serdika is my Rome. In Serdika was the place where the decision to move the capital of the East Roman Empire in Constantinople was taken, and until its construction Konstantin reigned from Serdika. During the ruling of the emperors Mark Aurelius and Commodus around 175, Serdika was protected by a fortified wall with four gates with observation towers, looking at the four directions of the world. A second external fortified wall was constructed in the 5th 6th century. Sofia Mosque Banya Bashi The mosque Banya Bashi was designed by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who also built the mosque of Sultan Selim on Edirne and the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. Because of the number 974 above the entrance arch, the mosque is considered to be built in 974, the Hijri (Islamic calendar) or in AD. The main building has a square shape and four corners and one central dome, and a minaret. The mosque was built in accordance with the trends in architecture in the 16th century. It was made of stone and bricks. There are small towers on the four floors, under which the supporting facilities descend through hoops. The prayer hall and the arches are completely made of stone. The columns were carved of one full stone piece and are of opaque color, the dome is lead-plated. The Russian Church St. Nikolay It is one of the most remarkable buildings in Sofia. It was built in the period between 1907 and 1914 on the initiative of the Russian Embassy and on its land. The wall paintings are works of Russian artists, under the directions of Vasiliy Perminov. There are 4 icons on the iconostasis, which are copies of the icons in the Kiev cathedral St. Vladimir. The five small domes of the church are covered in gold, and the bells were donated by the Russian Emperor Nikolay the 2nd. The temple is an obligatory stopping point for exploring Sofia's sights. 3

4 The Rotunda St. George The oldest and best preserved monument of architecture since Roman times in Sofia is the rotunda church St. George. It was built in the beginning of the 4th century during the time of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (ruled ) and the flourishing of the ancient city of Serdica (the old name of Sofia). It is also considered as the oldest building in Sofia. The temple is situated in the courtyard of the Government Office, just a couple of meters of the remains of the ancient fortress Serdika. It is a cylindrical domed structure, built on a square base. Its width is about 9.5 meters in diameter and its height is about 14 meters. The altar room has a square form and four symmetrically placed niches. The main entrance is at the western wall. Originally the building was used for public purposes. After the recognition of Christianity as a religion in the Roman Empire, the rotunda became a baptistery (a building for conversion to Christianity), due to the many conversions, following the authorization of this religion. At the time of Emperor Justinian the Great (reigned ) the Rotunda was transformed into a church. The first wall painting was made in the same period. During the Ottoman rule and the reign of sultan Selim the 1st (reigned ) the Rotunda St George was transformed into a mosque, named Gyul Dzhamasi. The Christian paintings on the walls were obliterated with white plaster and in their place were painted floral motifs. The Monument to the Unknown Soldier It is located just next to the St Sofia Church in the Capital. The monument commemorates the hundreds of thousands of Bulgarian soldiers who died defending their homeland. It was built in It carries the pathos of Vazov s poetry and a piece of land from Shipka and Stara Zagora, places where some of the most cruel battles took place during the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation ( ). Near the monument, behind the church is the grave of Ivan Vazov. At his request, he was buried in a place where people like to spend their free time. A stone from Vitosha mountain shows the great Bulgarian writer s grave. 4

5 National Gallery for Foreign Art Sofia The gallery is housed in an old metropolitan building, which used to be the State printing house, designed by the Vienna architect Friedrich Schwanberg. The building is attractive with its own style and grace since the time of about a hundred years ago. Unfortunately, during the Second World War, the beautiful building was affected and damaged by the bombing of Sofiа and completely restored later. Its appearance today, conformed to the functions of a modern gallery, is the work of famous Bulgarian architect, artist Nikola Nikolov and was opened on 5 November October Friday am Laying of Wreaths at the Monument of Salvation raised to commemorate the Holocaust victims, situated in the garden in front of the Parliament and the National Academy of Arts. 6:30 pm A bus transfer from hotel Marinela to Bulgaria Concert Hall, Sofiaphilharmonic Musical stage performance, dedicated to the great revolutionaries Giuseppe Garibaldi and Kaptain Petko Voyvoda. For the first time, special for the IX World Conference of Garibaldi Lodges - the music of Giuseppe Garibaldi and his time: Viva ITALIA! Long Live BULGARIA! In the program: Works and compositions by Verdi, Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini, Puccini, Dukas, Goethe, Pancho Vladigerov, Lyubomir Pipkov, Marin Goleminov, Petko Staynov, Italian Cantonese, Bulgarian folklore songs, Church Slavonic chants ect.. 8:30 pm Welcome Buffet - hotel Marinela, Sofia. Wines and traditional Bulgarian meals Dress code - casual 5

6 6 October Saturday 9:00 am Opening a photo exhibition World Garibaldi Meetings EFFE Hall, hotel Marinela 9:30 am Opening of the Conference EFFE Hall, hotel Marinela, THE CHAIN OF LIBERTY IX World Conference of Garibaldi Lodges Welcome speeches: M:. W:. Bro Iskren Yotov G:. М:. of UGLB M:. W:. Bro Stefano Bisi G:. М:. of GOI M:. W:. Bro Jean - Pierre Servel G:. М:. of GLNF V:.W:. Bro Mitko Solakov M:. L:. Kapitan Petko Voyvoda GARIBALDINO 2:30 pm Light lunch buffet - hotel Marinela 3:30 pm Meeting of the Masters of Garibaldi Lodges for taking decisions for future activities - hotel Marinela For the ladies and guests who cannot participate in the Ritual Works we propose a visit to Art-house museum The Dolls at 3:00 pm A unique museum in Bulgaria with over 3000 dolls, workshop and Birthday party center. There are porcelain, antique, ritual, modern, marionette, souvenir, vintage and collector dolls from Bulgaria and the whole world. The fairy creatures smile, sing and dance while they tell stories. Young and old dive into the rich puppet world of the museum, fascinated by its magic. The museum is located in the center of Sofia-city in a 100 year old aristocratic house - a monument of culture in neoclassical style with a cozy inner courtyard. 4:00 pm Ritual Work in the First Degree opened for all Regular Masons Sofia Hall, hotel Marinela 6

7 8:30 pm Gala Dinner. Various cultural and artistic program - EFFE Hall, hotel Marinela (Booking by 20th September, 30,00 per head) Dress code formal Wines and traditional Bulgarian meals 7- course menu For the good mood of the guest - performances of: Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra Ensemble "Bulgare" the 8 th Wonder of the World 100 kaba bagpipes World famous performer /a special surprise for the guests / 7 Оctober Sunday 10:00 am Meeting at Garibaldi Square in Sofia - Laying of Wreaths at the monument in memory of Giuseppe Garibaldi followed by giving honors and a performance of the Military Brass Orchestra. 11:30 am Visit to Park - Museum Vrana - built as a summer residence for the Royal family between 1909 and 1912 by King Ferdinand. 12:30 pm Lunch Buffet " CLOSING OF THE IX CONFERENCE OF GARIBALDI LODGES" hotel Marinela (Booking by 20th September, 10,00 per head) Contacts: V:.W:.Bro Mitko Solakov Master of Lodge Kapitan Petko Voyvoda GARIBALDINO bro.mitkosolakov@gmail.com mob.: Bro Radi Radev Secretary of Lodge Kapitan Petko Voyvoda GARIBALDINO garibaldiicibulgaria@gmail.com mob.: