Varna Will Have a Monument to the Holy Seven Saints
20 may 2026
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliki Preslav, a monument to the Holy Seven Saints will be erected in Varna. The seven bronze figures of the Equal-to-the-Apostles saints and enlighteners Cyril and Methodius and their disciples - St. Clement, St. Naum, St. Gorazd, St. Sava, and St. Angelarius - will be donated by Varna Free University Chernorizets Hrabar.
The university embraced the proposal of the Bulgarian Patriots Association and joined the initiative committee for the monument’s construction. More than 30 organizations, representatives of local authorities, libraries, schools, museums, public figures, members of the cultural and artistic community, and patriotic citizens of Varna have supported the conceptual project, which received the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliki Preslav.
“The Holy Seven Saints are a spiritual compass for education, strength of spirit, and the belief that knowledge builds nations and states. I believe this monument will remain for future generations as an expression of respect for Bulgarian culture and as a message that without knowledge, spirituality, and historical memory, there is no future,” said the president of Varna Free University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Krasimir Nedyalkov.
The university will provide nearly 70% of the funding needed to realize the project. The donation is dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Varna Free University. “The monument to the Holy Seven Saints is a cause that can unite our community around indisputable national values. It will show that Varna is a city of spirit. It is a bridge between the past and the future through which we will leave a worthy symbol - one of memory, respect, and gratitude to the people who gave Bulgaria literacy, knowledge, and spirituality,” emphasized Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nedyalkov.
The monument designs have been donated in honor of the university’s 35th anniversary. They are the work of alumni graduates. The conceptual sculpture project was created by Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Ninov - a sculptor and lecturer at Varna Free University. The architectural concept was developed by the architects Marin and Kalin Velchevi, while the engineering project was prepared by the architect and engineer Petar Tasev. The typography work will be carried out by Assist. Prof. Ani Dimitrova - a leading Bulgarian type designer and also a lecturer at Varna Free University.
The idea of building a monument to the Holy Seven Saints in St. St. Cyril and Methodius Square has a long history in Varna. Proposals for its creation were discussed as early as the end of the last century, but today the initiative once again unites the community.
Symbolically, the implementation of the project has begun just days before May 24th - the Day of St. St. Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture, and Slavic literature. The initiative committee has submitted the necessary documents for the construction of the monument to the Municipality of Varna, launching all legal procedures required for the project’s realization. After its completion, the monument will be donated to the Municipality of Varna.