Just before the holidays of Trifon Zarezan and St. Valentine’s Day – on the evening of February 12 – the Small Hall of the Union of Lawyers in Bulgaria was illuminated by poetry.

The traditional "Evtimov Evening" took place, dedicated to love, wine, and poetry. And, of course, as its name suggests, it honored our great poet Evtim Evtimov, who was a close friend of lawyers who write poetry. The evening was organized by the Union’s Cultural House, and the host was Keti Bozukova, a lawyer, Secretary General of the Union, and a poet with 30 published collections!

Love poems, most of them written by lawyers-poets themselves, were read in front of the audience – which included the Chairman of the Union, Vladislav Slavov, judges, lawyers, representatives of the academic community, and poetry-loving citizens.

The recital began with a poem by Evtim Evtimov and concluded with one by his son – Venko Evtimov. In between, poem after poem, work after work followed… It became clear that lawyers, too, fall passionately in love. Whether shared or unspoken, joyful or tormented… The most beautiful human feeling – love – enchanted everyone through the verses of Petya Khantova, a judge at the Petrich District Court; Prof. Snejana Nacheva and Prof. Tsanka Tsankova – legendary names in law; Vlado Lyubenov, lawyer, composer, and director; Viktor Ivanov – UNWE lecturer, also known as "the lawyer with a poet’s soul"… Col. Ventsislav Radkov, a ranger from Afghanistan and former director of the Regional Military Police Service in Plovdiv, moved everyone with his exquisite sonnets, and Damyan Frantsov, lawyer, with his tender love poems…

Kristian Georgiev, legal counsel, made his debut at the "Evtimov Evening." Having heard about the event, he came and captivated the audience with his vivid talent, openly declaring he would attend these evenings in the future. Keti Bozukova also invited him to contribute to the pages of the almanac "Themis," published by the Union, where lawyers who write publish their works. She then read one of her own poems as well.

Listening to so many beautiful poems, one forgets, if only for a moment, the heavy and responsible professions of these people. And by quietly peeking into their most intimate feelings, the audience shares those emotions with them.

Everything that evening was moving, sincere, and radiant - illuminated by poetry, wine, and love.

Photos: Union of Lawyers in Bulgaria. Above: Host Keti Bozukova and Venko Evtimov. Below: Moments from the "Evtimov Evening" at the Union of Lawyers in Bulgaria.