site.btaBulgarians’ Association in Crete Declares Freedom-fighter Captain Petko Voyvoda Patron

The Association of Bulgarians in Crete has chosen freedom-fighter Captain Petko Voyvoda as its patron, the Association Chairman, Petar Anastasov, said, as Boyka Atanasova of the locally circulated Balgarski Novini [Bulgarian News] newspaper told BTA. 

The Captain’s name and his words “Freedom and equality for the people” unite all in the name of one cause, and he is worthy of becoming the association’s patron with his birthday adopted as its patron’s day, Atanasov commented. 

The Bulgarians in Crete also demand a national diplomatic embassy opened on the island. One that would maintain the relations between the two peoples, support the local Bulgarian diaspora and the numerous Bulgarian schools there.

The Greek authorities have also expressed readiness for the opening of such an office, but numerous discussions and appeals over the past years, as well as petitions to the Bulgarian authorities have so far remained without response. The Bulgarian diaspora in Crete has proven its desire to retain its roots, language and culture; the Association has opened five schools the children attend regularly and there they study Bulgarian language, history and geography, they also take an active part in various events, Anastasov said. 

In the last six years visiting consular officials from the office at the Bulgarian Embassy in Athens have serviced some 3,000 Bulgarian nationals for the issuance of personal documents on Crete. 

Captain Petko Voyvoda was a Bulgarian freedom fighter who 166 years ago first studied at the military academy in Athens, then joined Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi in forming a company of 200 Italian and 67 Bulgarian revolutionaries to take part in the Cretan Revolt (1866-1869).