The ‘13 Centuries Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund remembers its numerous donors in favour of the cultural and historical heritage and spiritual sphere. Over 45 years now, it has been preserving the testimonies to the generosity of Bulgarians, especially in the initial years of the organisation’s establishment.
Thanks to its donors, the Fund has succeeded in supporting many museums, libraries, churches, monasteries, hospitals, social care homes, and schools. It has worked to support organisations by announcing sessions or developing projects on specific topics.
Through the Fund, thousands of donors have contributed over the years to the construction of 250 major national sites of culture, education, science, healthcare, and sports. Among them was the Monument to the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, gifted to Murmansk in 1990.
On 3 March 1990, Bulgaria’s National Liberation Day, the bronze statue of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius was completed. It is a replica of their monument in front of the National Library in the capital, which was the work of Bulgarian sculptor Vladimir Ginovski (1927–2014).
Writer Tsanko Zhivkov wrote in his book, ‘For You, My Dear People!’, that this was ‘The monument that NEF “13 Centuries of Bulgaria”, on behalf of the entire Bulgarian people, presents to the people of Murmansk for their pioneering role in celebrating the Day of Slavic Alphabet and Culture in Russia.’
Nedyalko Petkov, Director General of the ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ Fund, presented the replica of the monument with a special message to the citizens of Murmansk. ‘Our great first teachers, Sts Cyril and Methodius, are once again setting off on their journey—from the uttermost Bulgarian south of the Slavic Ocean to the uttermost polar north of Murmansk’, he said, adding: ‘The “13 Centuries Bulgaria” Fund is the blessed intermediary between the novel mission of the holy Slavic fathers in the Far North and those thousands of Bulgarian donors who gave funds to make their journey possible.’
The monument was transported and, on 20 March, after a 5,000 km journey, it arrived in the largest city located beyond the Arctic Circle. Its unveiling took place on 24 May.
In 2020, NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ provided financial support for the construction of a Monument to the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius in Tsaribrod, Republic of Serbia. The Monument was designed by Prof. Valentin Starchev and Kamen Starchev.