Thousands of Bulgarians gathered at the Shipka peak in Stara Planina for the celebrations that marked the 139th anniversary since the epic Battle of Shipka Pass, which played a key role in Bulgaria’s Liberation from Ottoman rule. In the morning a memorial service took place in the Sokolski Monastery in memory of the fallen. The traditional orienteering and speed climbing competitions also took place, as well as a reenactment of the epic battles of August 1877.