The Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and of Slavonic Alphabet was widely celebrated across the Balkan country and abroad by the way of processions, rallies, concerts, exhibitions and receptions on Sunday.

Traditionally, the key event in Bulgaria was held in front of the National Library in Sofia, at the monument of the brothers Cyril and Methodius who in 855 invented the first alphabet for Slavic languages.

The chorus of the National Music School sang the hymn of Bulgarian enlightenment, the Guard Brass Band played the national anthem, two children recited the poem "I am a Bulgarian child", and many wreaths and flowers were laid by thousands of people including the country's President Rosen Plevneliev.

Addressing the ceremony, Plevneliev said May 24 is a Day of Bulgarian identity.

For centuries, each Bulgarian success has been illuminated by the light of the written word, he said.

The Bulgarian book has always given the people strength and confidence for the future, Plevneliev said.

In his festive speech, Antony Stoyanov, director of the Sofia Mathematics High School, underlined that May 24 is primarily a celebration of the letters, and when people return to the world of letters, they naturally become better.

"This is the Day our children - our children and the children who still live in ourselves," Stoyanov said.

The alphabet invented by Cyril and Methodius is now officially used by over 250 million people worldwide in about 12 countries such as Russia, Ukraine and Serbia.