In brief
On October 29, UAE leaders and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Turkey’s Republic Day with formal messages to President Erdoğan, underscoring close diplomatic ties. Meanwhile, the day also marks Bessarabian Bulgarians’ Day, observed in Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Moldova, celebrating the 1838 consecration of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Bolhrad. The Bulgarian agency BTA listed the day among national observances, noting its significance in Bulgarian history and the adoption of the word "evro" for the currency in EU documents.
On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia sent congratulatory messages to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in observance of the Republic Day that falls on October 29. The messages, forwarded from Abu Dhabi, were carried by the UAE agency WAM.
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented a congratulatory note to Erdoğan, while Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan also sent messages from Dubai, according to WAM’s report.
Concurrently, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable wishing the Turkish President “good health” and “steady progress and prosperity,” a gesture noted by the Saudi Press Agency.
October 29 is also marked as Bessarabian Bulgarians’ Day, a holiday that was officially revived at the initiative of the cultural association Rodolyubets, according to the BTA article “Bessarabian Bulgarians’ Day Observed on October 29.”
The day commemorates the 1838 consecration of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Bolhrad, the first major Orthodox church built by Bulgarian settlers in Bessarabia with the labor and funds of more than 10,000 people. Celebrations now occur in Bulgaria, Ukraine and Moldova, featuring concerts, exhibitions and academic conferences devoted to the community’s heritage.
The BTA bulletin titled “Observances: October 29” lists the National Day of Turkey—Republic Day 1923—as a key observance for the day, in addition to Bessarabian Bulgarians’ Day. The bulletin also traces milestones in Bulgarian history on the date, such as the 1838 church consecration, the 1886 election of Prince Valdemar of Denmark and later events of the early 21st century.
A TurkStart article published shortly before the holiday noted that each October, Turkey’s public life turns red and white, schools and public buildings are decorated, and festivities take place from Ankara to Antalya, reflecting the day’s importance on the national calendar.
