On September 12, 2025, a solemn ceremony took place at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Sofia, Bulgaria, marking the return of restored commemorative marble plaques originally installed in 1912 to commemorate the laying of the first stone of the church. According to BTA, the event began with a moleben led by Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel.

The plaques, which feature inscriptions mentioning Prince Alexander of Battenberg, Emperor Alexander II, Emperor Alexander III, and Tsar Ferdinand—rulers during various stages of the cathedral's construction—were replaced in the 1950s. After decades, they have now been restored to their original state.

In his address, Patriarch Daniel emphasized that the restoration of the memorial plaques represents an act of historical justice. "These stones immortalize the aspirations, labor, and sacrifices of our ancestors. Their removal in 1950 was an attempt to erase the memory of state and spiritual achievements, but after decades, the truth has been restored," he stated. He warned that denying the past leads to "destruction and spiritual desolation," while preserving historical memory strengthens the nation.

The plaques, installed before the consecration of the cathedral in 1912, commemorate the laying of the first stone and the construction of the church initiated by the First National Assembly in 1879, as well as the restoration of the independent Bulgarian kingdom in 1908. In the 1950s, they were replaced with new plaques featuring texts aligned with the ideology of the then-authoritarian regime.

The restoration was made possible through the initiative of a public committee and with the support of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The ceremony was attended by Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the last Tsar of Bulgaria from 1943 to 1946, as well as government representatives, historians, and numerous believers.

"We must respect our history; it strengthens the nation's confidence in itself," said Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, emphasizing that the return of the plaques helps preserve continuity and national memory.