The opening ceremony was attended by Deyan Katratchev, Ambassador of Bulgaria to Egypt; El-Tayeb Abbas, Director of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC); Ambassador Omar Salim, representing Minister of Culture Gihane Zaki; alongside members of the scientific and diplomatic community and other distinguished guests.
In his remarks, Ambassador Katratchev said the exhibition showcases the meticulous research of Vessela Atanassova, a renowned Egyptologist and assistant professor at the Institute for Balkan Studies with the Centre for Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The exhibition traces the spread of Egyptian religious practices into Bulgarian lands and across the wider Black Sea region over eight centuries—from the Hellenistic period to the fall of the Roman Empire—demonstrating how Egyptian cults moved beyond their place of origin through Greco-Roman trade networks.
Katratchev expressed confidence that Atanassova’s work would deepen Egyptian public understanding of the ancient religious and cultural connections linking the two regions.
He described it as “a distinct honour” to inaugurate the exhibition at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, calling it “a pioneering cultural institution and platform for dialogue and international understanding,” following its successful run at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
He added that renewed high-level dialogue and the establishment of joint committees have advanced a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Bilateral trade reached a record $1.81 billion in 2024, making Egypt Bulgaria’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and Africa, while Bulgaria ranks as Egypt’s eighth-largest partner within the European Union. Bulgarian investments contribute to Egypt’s food security and strategic projects, alongside expanding cooperation in education and scientific research.
Katratchev also thanked Abbas for sustaining NMEC’s collaboration with Bulgaria, recalling the widely acclaimed event held on 24 May 2023, which featured the award-winning Bulgarian National Television documentary “The King and the Sun,” highlighting the depth of Bulgarian expertise in Egyptology.
He noted that Bulgarian researchers have conducted archaeological missions in Luxor since 2012, underscoring a key pillar of bilateral cooperation.
Historical ties
Katratchev pointed out that although formal diplomatic relations were established in 1926, cultural and commercial ties between the two peoples date back millennia. He noted that ancient Thracians reached Egypt as part of the “Sea Peoples,” in the armies of Darius I, and as mercenaries during the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Following Alexander’s death, Egyptian cults spread across Thrace and along the Black Sea coast—a process of cultural diffusion highlighted in the exhibition.
He also cited several historical milestones, including the founding of one of Europe’s oldest continuously active monasteries in Serdica in 343 AD by Athanasius of Alexandria; medieval diplomatic exchanges between Bulgarian rulers and Fatimid and Mamluk authorities; and the emergence of a 19th-century Bulgarian community in Egypt, known as the Masarlii, who established thriving textile and dairy enterprises while supporting their hometowns for more than 80 years.
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