Thousands of Bulgarians climbed the emblematic Mount Shipka, in order to take part at the festivities dedicated to the Day of National Liberation March 3. The celebrations began at 11.30 am with a liturgy in memory of the fallen soldiers in the Russo-Turkish war. The service was held by Veliko Tarnovo Metropolitan Grigorii and Stara Zagora Metropolitan Cyprian. Bulgaria’s caretaker Premier Ognyan Gerdzhikov began his speech with famous verses by Patriarch of Bulgarian literature Ivan Vazov. Premier Gerdzhikov called on his compatriots to remember their history. District governors, mayors, representatives of the Russian embassy and the embassy of the Repubic of Belarus attended the celebrations.