Български
SPORT
An Active Holy Thursday
09.04.2026
On April 9, 2026 – Holy Thursday – Sofia’s St. Nedelya Square was transformed into a space of shared joy, movement, and community through an event organized by the Sofia Metropolis, with the blessing of His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch. The initiative was carried out in partnership with the Sofia Municipality, the Regional Department of Education, and Bulgarian sports development association (BSDA), with strong support from volunteers, Sunday schools, and representatives of the educational and civic sectors. The event brought together children and young people in a lively, dynamic experience where the spirit of the holiday was felt not through words, but through participation – through movement, games, and connection.
The official opening featured remarks from representatives of the Sofia Metropolis, Ms. Blagorodna Zdravkova, Deputy Mayor of Sofia, and Dr. Eleonora Lilova, Head of the Regional Department of Education. The program combined Easter egg painting with sports games, naturally complementing the festive atmosphere and creating an environment where children learn through experience, interaction, and movement.
The highlight of the event was a festive procession. Carrying painted eggs and handmade icons from the Sunday schools of Sofia’s churches, the children made their way to the granary of St. Petka Church. There, the Easter eggs and greeting cards were donated and will be included in holiday care packages for people in need – an expression of compassion and solidarity in the days leading up to Easter.
For the eighth consecutive year, the event demonstrated how tradition can be experienced in a modern way – through participation, movement, and community. In this spirit, part of the activities were carried out under the #SPORT initiative by BSDA, supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The initiative promotes sustainable inclusion through sport at local, national, and international levels, for people with intellectual disabilities. Just days earlier, in the beginning of April, an international sports camp took place in Kardzhali, bringing together children and young people with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Turkey. It reinforced a simple but powerful message: when we are together, we all can.
The highlight of the event was a festive procession. Carrying painted eggs and handmade icons from the Sunday schools of Sofia’s churches, the children made their way to the granary of St. Petka Church. There, the Easter eggs and greeting cards were donated and will be included in holiday care packages for people in need – an expression of compassion and solidarity in the days leading up to Easter.
For the eighth consecutive year, the event demonstrated how tradition can be experienced in a modern way – through participation, movement, and community. In this spirit, part of the activities were carried out under the #SPORT initiative by BSDA, supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The initiative promotes sustainable inclusion through sport at local, national, and international levels, for people with intellectual disabilities. Just days earlier, in the beginning of April, an international sports camp took place in Kardzhali, bringing together children and young people with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Turkey. It reinforced a simple but powerful message: when we are together, we all can.
