April 16 is one of Bulgaria\u2019s most dramatic dates, joining the birth of constitutional government with one of the country\u2019s darkest acts of political violence.<\/p>\n
On April 16, 1879, the Constituent Assembly in Tarnovo adopted the Constitution of the Principality of Bulgaria, later known as the Tarnovo Constitution. It became one of the most liberal constitutions of its time, establishing principles of representation, civil rights, and parliamentary government in the newly restored state. The constitution gave legal form to Bulgaria\u2019s political rebirth after liberation and became a symbol of constitutional tradition. It was suspended and amended at different moments, but its place in national memory remained powerful. April 16 is therefore observed as Constitution Day and marks the moment when Bulgaria\u2019s modern political framework was first written into law.<\/p>\n
On April 16, 1925, militants from an extreme left group connected with the Bulgarian Communist Party carried out the bombing of St Nedelya Church in Sofia. The attack killed about 150 people, many from the political and military elite, and injured around 500. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Bulgarian history. The bombing came during a period of severe political polarization, repression, and underground violence after the turmoil of 1923. Its effect was devastating: grief, fear, and further state crackdowns deepened the wounds of Bulgarian society. April 16 therefore carries a double meaning \u2014 constitutional hope in 1879 and catastrophic political hatred in 1925.<\/p>\n
Read about April 15<\/a> or continue with April 17<\/a>. For more stories, explore Bulgaria From Above<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On this day in Bulgarian history: the Tarnovo Constitution was adopted in 1879, and the St Nedelya Church bombing took place in 1925.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3334,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-on-this-day-in-bulgaria","latest_post"],"yoast_head":"\n