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Emil Is Gone to the Heavenly Scene
Tens of thousands applauded their icon for the last time. The President and members of the political elite came to bid a last farewell to the singer of My Country, My Bulgaria
The line of people willing to say their last farewell to Emil Dimitrov wound up for three long hours |
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Emil Dimitrov was accompanied to his last resting place with a storm of applauses and flowers. When the silver hearse, carrying his coffin turned in the direction of the St. Nedelya's Church, the crowds started applauding. The round of applause did not subside all along the way from the former Party House to the church. The cars, surrounding the procession joined in by blowing their horns. Emil Dimitrov's fans were bidding a last farewell, expressing their love and admiration. The ceremony of paying last respects to the memory of Emil Dimitrov was scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. in the former Party House in Sofia, but the endless queue of grieved fans has started gathering at dawn. At 8:00 a.m., there were already a hundred people lining up, and an hour later their number had reached several thousands. The people were coming in waves, carrying huge quantities of flowers, and humming the timeless popular tunes, performed by the singer. President Georgi Parvanov wrote in one of the books of condolence, "Let us honor the sacred memory of Emil Dimitrov - a legend of modern Bulgarian music, a source of inspiration, joy, love and patriotism for several generations of Bulgarians." For the media, the Head of State said: "We will remember Emil Dimitrov for his amazing songs, sung by generations of Bulgarians: "My Country, My Bulgaria", "If You Have Given", "Julia". They have become symbols of joy, love and patriotism, conveying the most profound of feelings." Parliamentary President Borislav Velikov declared: "I am very upset, for a part of me is going away. Emil is a part of every one of us. We have lived with his songs, they will never cease to sound loud and clear in our heads. To me, there is one key-note song - it says that if you have given, you have not lived your life in vain, and this is the only way to enjoy the love and respect of people." MP Yuliana Doncheva, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski, BSP Leader Sergei Stanishev, UDF Leader Nadezhda Mihaylova, BSP MP Rumen Petkov, former Parliamentary President Ognian Gerdjikov and former Minister of Culture Bozhidar Abrashev were among the political figures, who had come to honor the memory of the late legend. In the hall, where Emil Dimitrov was lying in state, his songs were played one after the other, as the star had wished on his death bed. The line of people, who had come to bid a last farewell to their icon, passed through the hall for three hours and a half. The star's son, Emil Dimitrov, Jr. was accepting the condolences on the death of his father. People of all ages came to say good-bye to the man, who performed "My Country, My Bulgaria". A bus of people came from the star's native town of Pleven specially for the occasion. Others were coming from all over Bulgaria on their own. The dead office was officiated by Metropolitan Nicolai, who read out loud excerpts from Emil Dimitrov's biography - a very rare practice, reserved for extraordinary circumstances. But the church turned out to be too small to hold the entire crowd, and hundreds of people were left outside.
Georgi P. Dimitrov
He Dedicated His Life to People
Celebrities Paid Last Tribute to Emil Dimitrov
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