
Coffin with King Ferdinand's Mortal Remains Placed in Vrana Palace's Central Lobby
The coffin with the mortal remains of King Ferdinand I (reigned 1887-1918) was placed in the central lobby of the Royal Vrana Palace on the outskirts of Sofia, BTA informs.
The remains were carried to the royal palace in a funeral procession that started from the main entrance of the park after the hearse with the remains of King Ferdinand I arrived from Sofia Airport, where they were transported from Germany by military aircraft.
The funeral procession reached the Vrana Palace, where it was welcomed by Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and his family, together with Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, official envoy of the Holy Synod, and Archbishop Luciano Suriani, Apostolic Nuncio to Bulgaria.
The National Guard Orchestra played the first Bulgarian anthem "Shumi Maritza".
The guardsmen with the coffin on their shoulder carried it up the stairs and placed it in the central lobby of the palace.
After the memorial ceremony, the palace doors will open to citizens wishing to pay their last respects to the coffin of the late Bulgarian King. A line of people wishing to pay their respects formed outside the palace entrance.
The memorial ceremony was attended by former Bulgarian President (2012 to 2017) Rosen Plevneliev, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, Sofia city councillors, politicians, public figures, journalists and citizens.
After abdicating in favour of his son Boris III in October 1918, Ferdinand lived in exile in Germany and died in the Bavarian city of Coburg on September 10, 1948, aged 87. He was laid in a temporary sarcophagus in front of his parents’ tomb in the crypt of Coburg’s St Augustine Church. His last wish was to be buried in Bulgaria. On Monday, with a church service, the residents of Coburg bid farewell to the remains of King Ferdinand I before they were brought to Sofia.
Restricted access to Chisinau International Airport on Easter Days
Moldovan head of state meets Most Right Reverend Petru, Archbishop of Chisinau, Metropolitan of Bessarabia, Exarch of the Lands
Moldovan president has meeting with Most Right Reverend Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova
Integration of Moldovan financial system into European Space: Banks of Moldova submit first applications for joining SEPA
Weather forecast in Moldova for 19-20 April
VIDEO // Famine of 1946-1947: Tragedy seen through eyes of the then children
Works of construction of Vulcanesti - Chisinau power line advance over distance of 100 km, with more than 300 pylon foundations completed
Moldovan carabineers go on peacekeeping mission in Kosovo
Construction of bridge at Ungheni over Prut river to be launched on 26 April through special event
PHOTO GALLERY // Central market crowded with shoppers in run-up to Easter
Over 400 firefighters to be on duty in Moldova on Easter Night
Increased passenger traffic at Chisinau Airport during Easter holidays
Electoral campaign for new local elections starts today
500 million lei for local road construction
Fuel prices continue to drop in Moldova
First candidates registered for electoral race in new local elections on 18 May