Sector Meetings

May 8 - 11, 2008, Samac, Bosnia & Herzegovina

May3 - 5, 2007, Ohrid, FYROM Macedonia

On the meeting were presented delegates from the National Sections of Cyprus, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Bosnia, Suisse, Portugal, France, Croatia, and Swaziland.

May13-14, 2006, Larnaka, Cyprus

May 2005, Kavala, Greece

May 2004, Beograd, Serbia and Montenegro

May 2003, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Sector Meeting Veliko Tarnovo '03 South European and African SectorThe capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 – 1393) gave the world the Manassiev Chronicle and the Tetraevangelia of Tzar Ivan Alexander, was the native place of Theodosius of Turnovo and Patriarch Euthymius, preserved colourful murals and architectural silhouettes from different ages for the generations, and let us to ponder the eternal wisdom, chiselled into the column of Khan Omourtag: “Man, no matter how well he lives, dies and other is born…”.

Today, too, this unusual city, whose stone houses seem perched one above the other on the steep bank of Yantra river, is dominated by Tsarevets Hill with its solid fortress wall, royal palaces, patriarchal church and the Baudouin’s Tower, reminding of the Latin Emperor Baudouin of Flanders who was captured by Tzar Kaloyan.
On Trapezitsa Hill the foundations of 17 mediaeval churches were discovered at the turn of the century during excavations organized by the French archaeologist Georges Soeur, but at the present only the restored St. Demetrius of Thessalonika and St. Peter and Paul churches are open to visits.

A stroll along old Gurko Street or in the Samovodene Market, a crafts and trade center, will give you a feel of the atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival period.

A visit to the exhibitions of the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum reveals the museum town’s rich history.

The town of Veliko Turnovo is built in the ending outskirts of the Central Fore Balkan. The town is situated amphitheatrically on 4 hills - Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, Momina Krepost and Sveta Gora, the ridges of which were indeed the deeply inclined steep banks of the Yantra river meanders. Tsarevets was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in XII century AC. Ancient travelers write about the town of Turnovo as "the second after Constantinopol" in its beauty and might. The fateful events from the 13 centuries old Bulgarian State are related with this town, such as the Second Bulgarian Kingdom's apogee in XII - XIII centuries AC and the adoption of the First Bulgarian Constitution in 1874.

Seven centuries ago as a capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom the town of Tsarevets had had a major role in the political and the spiritual life in Bulgaria. Although there were very little evidences preserved by now they give clear information for the might of the Bulgarian Tzar dynasties and the Bulgarian Patriarch influence together with the spiritual activities in the former throne town. Archaeological researches show a significant civil, residential and cult building. The most monumental of it were the King's and Patriarch's Palaces. The exquisite architecture, the original and realistic murals in the cherishes, the colourful mosaics and handicraft masterpieces show the high disposition and artistic genius of Bulgarian masters, such as Zachary Zograf and Kolio Ficheto.

Now the old town quarters are preserved with their dislocated on terraces Bulgarian Renaissance houses, with their fine interior, handicraft workshops and cafes. The today's travelers describe it as the most beautiful Bulgarian town. Now the town of Veliko Turnovo is an administrative, economical and cultural center. The audiovisual performance "Sound and Light" are attractions for the visitors of the town.