Gathering of Officials

In the chamber known as the “Lion House,” Kaymakam Pasha, along with viziers, scholars, the Sheikhulislam, and other state officials, assembled.

Announcement of Accession

Meanwhile, cannons fired from various locations, including Saray Point, the Castle of the Seven Towers, the Maiden’s Tower, and forts, to signify the Sultan’s accession while preparations for the deceased ruler’s burial were underway.

Entry into the Holy Relics Department

Kaymakam Pasha, the Master Sheikhulislam, and the Admiral proceeded to the department of Holy Relics where Sultan Selim III awaited. There, ceremonial garments and accessories were bestowed upon them.

Attire Signifying Status

High-ranking officials, including the Chief black eunuch of the Harem and the Sultan’s sword-bearer, were also dressed in fur coats, symbolizing their stature, before entering the “Holy Relics” department.

Preparation for the Sultan’s Arrival

Upon completion of attire arrangements, the Chief white eunuch informed the Sultan of the readiness. Meanwhile, Kaymakam Pasha, the Admiral, and the Sheikhulislam awaited near the Imperial Throne, ensuring everything was in order Istanbul Private Tours Mevlevi.

Sultan’s Entrance and Attire

Finally, Sultan Selim III arrived and took his place on the throne adorned with a scarlet turban, a Yusufi crest, and a jeweled fur cloak called “Kapaniqe,” receiving applause from those present.

This ceremonial event highlights the formalities and protocols observed during the accession of Sultan Selim III, emphasizing the significance of attire and symbolic gestures in Ottoman court ceremonies.

Raika's Teaching Journey

Raika’s Teaching Journey A Tale of Education and Community Support

Raika’s transition into a teaching career at the age of sixteen reflects the thriving educational landscape of Otluk-kui, or Panagurishti, as known to the Bulgarians.

Flourishing Schools

Otluk-kui boasted three schools—a girls’ school and two boys’ schools—housed in impressive buildings that rivaled those of larger villages in more developed regions. The village’s commitment to education was evident in its well-attended classrooms and dedicated teachers.

Teacher Compensation

Teachers in Otluk-kui received commendable salaries, providing them with comfortable incomes in a region where the cost of living was modest. Raika, alongside three male teachers, earned a yearly salary of sixty pounds, a substantial amount in a community where expenses were minimal Tour Packages Bulgaria.

Raika’s Contribution

Raika’s dedication extended beyond her teaching duties; she allocated half of her salary to repay the literary society for funding her education. Her rapid ascent to the position of headmistress at the girls’ school solidified her standing as a beloved figure in the community.

Community Support

The schools’ success was not solely dependent on government funding but also on the voluntary contributions of the Bulgarian people. This grassroots support demonstrated their collective effort to uplift themselves from a long history of oppression and deprivation.

Raika’s teaching journey symbolizes the resilience and determination of the Bulgarian people to overcome adversity through education and community support. As she nurtured young minds in Otluk-kui, she played a vital role in shaping the future of her village and inspiring hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Raika’s journey from student to teacher highlights the importance of education and community involvement in the upliftment of Bulgarian society. Her story serves as a testament to the transformative power of education and the resilience of individuals in the face of hardship.

Assessing Lord Derby's Statement

Rebuttal of Lord Derby’s Assertion

When Lord Derby asserted in the House of Lords that the government lacked information from consuls in Scutari, Belgrade, and Galatz regarding Bashi-Bazouk atrocities, it raised eyebrows. His comparison to the consuls in St. Petersburg, Berlin, and Vienna regarding the Dublin riots seemed misguided. The distance and communication challenges from Galatz and Belgrade to Philippopolis, where the atrocities occurred, are no greater than those from Vienna or St. Petersburg to Dublin. Consuls in Belgrade and Galatz are as uninformed as those in Bordeaux or Lyons. Until Mr. Baring’s report, the government likely relied solely on newspaper accounts, lacking direct information.

Mission of Investigation

Arriving with my own mission to investigate and report, I sought to maintain a fair and impartial mindset. Determined to witness firsthand, inquire, and scrutinize evidence objectively, I refused to be swayed by unsubstantiated claims. I examined the Christian and Turkish perspectives with equal detachment, considering both vehement accusations and conciliatory gestures. Initially skeptical, I approached the issue with scientific inquiry’s spirit, listening to all sides impartially. However, I soon realized my miscalculation Turkey Sightseeing.

Unforeseen Challenges

Despite my initial impartiality, I underestimated the complexities. While it’s easy to remain calm and judicial about others’ woes, the reality proved more challenging. As I delved deeper into the investigation, I encountered unexpected obstacles and complexities that tested my resolve and impartiality.

In conclusion, Lord Derby’s assertion about consular information lacks context and understanding of the challenges involved. My own mission of investigation, undertaken with impartiality and scientific rigor, revealed the complexities and challenges inherent in uncovering the truth amidst conflicting narratives and interests.

Soviet Influence Across Sectors

Cultural and Educational Alignment

Culture and education in Bulgaria have undergone Sovietization. Hundreds of Russian books have been translated into Bulgarian and widely published. The educational system closely follows the Soviet model. The Bulgarian education statute of July 1959 is essentially a copy of the Soviet law from December 1958. Its primary aim, as reported by Party Secretary Todor Zhivkov, is to indoctrinate future generations, foster animosity towards opponents of Communist ideals, and emphasize the teaching of Marxism-Leninism.

Socio-Economic System Mirrors the USSR

Bulgaria’s social and economic structure mirrors that of the USSR. Industry is entirely nationalized and under Communist state administration. Both domestic and foreign trade are state-controlled, and all banking and credit institutions are state-owned. Agricultural land and the economy have been collectivized using forceful methods similar to those employed in Soviet Russia in the early 1930s. Bulgaria’s economic ties with the USSR are substantial, with production aligned to meet Soviet demands. The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) signals a gradual economic integration of the entire Soviet bloc Guided Istanbul Tours.

Recent Economic Challenges and Opposition

Exploitation has increased in recent years, particularly with the proclamation of the “big leap forward” in October 1958, seemingly instructed by Moscow. This disrupted the economic system, resulting in reduced production of consumer goods and food, exacerbating the people’s misery. The “big leap forward” has stirred opposition across society, leading to passive resistance and sabotage, countered by relentless police terror. Tens of thousands are now in prisons and concentration camps in Bulgaria.

Continuous Soviet Intervention

The Sovietization of Bulgaria spans political, legal, administrative, military, cultural, social, and economic domains. This persistent intervention violates the Peace Treaty of February 10, 1947, and the United Nations Charter. The current Bulgarian government was imposed by the Soviet Army and has never faced free elections or public ratification. Consequently, it does not truly represent the will of the Bulgarian people and lacks independence, serving as a tool of Moscow.

Soviet Influence Across Sectors

Cultural and Educational Alignment

Culture and education in Bulgaria have undergone Sovietization. Hundreds of Russian books have been translated into Bulgarian and widely published. The educational system closely follows the Soviet model. The Bulgarian education statute of July 1959 is essentially a copy of the Soviet law from December 1958. Its primary aim, as reported by Party Secretary Todor Zhivkov, is to indoctrinate future generations, foster animosity towards opponents of Communist ideals, and emphasize the teaching of Marxism-Leninism.

Socio-Economic System Mirrors the USSR

Bulgaria’s social and economic structure mirrors that of the USSR. Industry is entirely nationalized and under Communist state administration. Both domestic and foreign trade are state-controlled, and all banking and credit institutions are state-owned. Agricultural land and the economy have been collectivized using forceful methods similar to those employed in Soviet Russia in the early 1930s. Bulgaria’s economic ties with the USSR are substantial, with production aligned to meet Soviet demands. The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) signals a gradual economic integration of the entire Soviet bloc Guided Istanbul Tours.

Recent Economic Challenges and Opposition

Exploitation has increased in recent years, particularly with the proclamation of the “big leap forward” in October 1958, seemingly instructed by Moscow. This disrupted the economic system, resulting in reduced production of consumer goods and food, exacerbating the people’s misery. The “big leap forward” has stirred opposition across society, leading to passive resistance and sabotage, countered by relentless police terror. Tens of thousands are now in prisons and concentration camps in Bulgaria.

Continuous Soviet Intervention

The Sovietization of Bulgaria spans political, legal, administrative, military, cultural, social, and economic domains. This persistent intervention violates the Peace Treaty of February 10, 1947, and the United Nations Charter. The current Bulgarian government was imposed by the Soviet Army and has never faced free elections or public ratification. Consequently, it does not truly represent the will of the Bulgarian people and lacks independence, serving as a tool of Moscow.

Late 1970s to 1989

Economic Decline and Continuous Crisis (Late 1970s-1980s)

As the late 1970s and early 1980s unfolded, it became evident that economic objectives in Bulgaria were hindered by a persistent decline. Technological renovation of the industry and the construction of industrial giants proved challenging, requiring substantial international loans. Despite the economic downturn, communist propaganda persisted, extolling the virtues of “real socialism,” emphasizing a “new economic approach,” “intellectualization of labor and production,” and “participation in the international labor division.” Nevertheless, the crisis persisted.

Zhivkov’s Resistance to “Perestroika”

In the crucial period of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Todor Zhivkov found himself at odds with the newly elected General Secretary of the Central Committee in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev’s policy of restructuring (“perestroika”) did not align with Zhivkov’s preferences. Zhivkov claimed that Bulgaria had already undergone its perestroika in 1956, attempting to distance the country from Gorbachev’s reforms. Despite Bulgaria being considered the most loyal Soviet satellite in Eastern Europe, it sought to disregard Kremlin directives, opting for demonstrative but ineffective transformations.

Growing Economic Cooperation and Internal Crisis

By the mid-1980s, discussions within the party and state bodies revolved around the possibility of structural renovation of the Bulgarian economy and increased economic cooperation with Western European countries and Japan. The low level of production development and financial distortions set the stage for a challenging transition to a market economy City Tours Istanbul. Simultaneously, Bulgarian-Turkish relations cooled significantly after the controversial acts of imposing Bulgarian names on ethnic Turks from 1984 to 1989.

Intellectual Activism and Informal Organizations (1988-1989)

The internal crisis, coupled with the influence of the Soviet “perestroika,” spurred Bulgarian intellectuals into action. The intellectual community became divided between “reformers” and supporters of the old regime. In 1988 and 1989, informal organizations emerged, led by representatives of the red intellectual elite, protesting against reform imitations and advocating for radical transformations. Capitalizing on the World Eco-forum held in Sofia in October 1989, these illegal structures made public appearances through rallies, marches, and subscriptions, signaling the stirring winds of change.

Turkish Villagers Pillage and Seize Livestock in Bulgarian Towns

A Climate of Fear and Exploitation

This article delves into the distressing reality faced by Bulgarian villagers, focusing on the rampant pillaging and livestock seizures perpetrated by Turkish neighbors. The pervasive climate of fear, economic exploitation, and the lack of authority figures to curb these offenses paints a bleak picture of rural life in Bulgaria.

Cattle Seizures and Denial of Justice

The first case study takes us to Perustitsa, where survivors of massacres and house burnings find themselves victims once again. The Turks from the neighboring village of Ustuna seize the remaining cattle, refusing to restore them even in the face of appeals for justice. The villagers’ pleas go unheard, showcasing the impunity with which such acts are committed.

The Helpless Mudir and Stolen Horses

The article shifts to Avrat-Alan, where Turkish neighbors unabashedly seize six horses from fields merely a mile away. Despite the injustice, the Mudir of Avrat-Alan claims powerlessness, citing the lack of authority over the offending Turks. The narrative highlights the pervasive fear among local authorities and their inability to protect villagers from such rampant aggression Bulgaria Tour.

A Brave Attempt Met with Violence

At Otluk-kui, a villager’s attempt to reclaim his cattle ends in a fresh sabre cut to his head. Armed with an order from the Mudir, his endeavor to retrieve his livestock exposes the violent reprisals faced by those who dare challenge the Turkish pillagers. This incident underscores the physical risks associated with seeking justice.

Urgent Need for Intervention and Protection

The article concludes with a stark portrayal of the unchecked aggression faced by Bulgarian villagers at the hands of Turkish neighbors. It calls for urgent intervention, emphasizing the need for a robust mechanism to ensure justice, protect livestock, and empower local authorities to curb these offenses. The prevailing climate of fear and economic exploitation must be addressed to safeguard the well-being and livelihoods of Bulgarian villagers.

A Plea for Empathy and Global Awareness

In a final reflection, the article urges global awareness and empathy for the plight of Bulgarian villagers. It calls on international bodies, humanitarian organizations, and concerned individuals to unite in condemning these acts of aggression, amplifying the voices of the oppressed, and working towards a future where rural communities can thrive without fear of pillaging and exploitation.

Turkish Villagers Pillage and Seize Livestock in Bulgarian Towns

A Climate of Fear and Exploitation

This article delves into the distressing reality faced by Bulgarian villagers, focusing on the rampant pillaging and livestock seizures perpetrated by Turkish neighbors. The pervasive climate of fear, economic exploitation, and the lack of authority figures to curb these offenses paints a bleak picture of rural life in Bulgaria.

Cattle Seizures and Denial of Justice

The first case study takes us to Perustitsa, where survivors of massacres and house burnings find themselves victims once again. The Turks from the neighboring village of Ustuna seize the remaining cattle, refusing to restore them even in the face of appeals for justice. The villagers’ pleas go unheard, showcasing the impunity with which such acts are committed.

The Helpless Mudir and Stolen Horses

The article shifts to Avrat-Alan, where Turkish neighbors unabashedly seize six horses from fields merely a mile away. Despite the injustice, the Mudir of Avrat-Alan claims powerlessness, citing the lack of authority over the offending Turks. The narrative highlights the pervasive fear among local authorities and their inability to protect villagers from such rampant aggression Bulgaria Tour.

A Brave Attempt Met with Violence

At Otluk-kui, a villager’s attempt to reclaim his cattle ends in a fresh sabre cut to his head. Armed with an order from the Mudir, his endeavor to retrieve his livestock exposes the violent reprisals faced by those who dare challenge the Turkish pillagers. This incident underscores the physical risks associated with seeking justice.

Urgent Need for Intervention and Protection

The article concludes with a stark portrayal of the unchecked aggression faced by Bulgarian villagers at the hands of Turkish neighbors. It calls for urgent intervention, emphasizing the need for a robust mechanism to ensure justice, protect livestock, and empower local authorities to curb these offenses. The prevailing climate of fear and economic exploitation must be addressed to safeguard the well-being and livelihoods of Bulgarian villagers.

A Plea for Empathy and Global Awareness

In a final reflection, the article urges global awareness and empathy for the plight of Bulgarian villagers. It calls on international bodies, humanitarian organizations, and concerned individuals to unite in condemning these acts of aggression, amplifying the voices of the oppressed, and working towards a future where rural communities can thrive without fear of pillaging and exploitation.

The Verbal Joust

Diplomatic Duels in Otluk-kui

Amidst the ravages of Otluk-kui, a unique diplomatic encounter unfolded, revealing the power dynamics and the verbal sparring between Mr. Schuyler and the Mudir. This episode, characterized by strategic exchanges and veiled threats, sheds light on the delicate dance of diplomacy in the face of atrocity.

Diplomatic Parry and Riposte Mudir’s Justification and Consul’s Retort

The stage was set for a verbal duel when the Mudir responded callously, asserting that the misery befallen upon the people of Otluk-kui was a consequence of their own actions. This declaration, laden with blame, presented an opportunity for Mr. Schuyler to launch a counteroffensive. Using Antonio as the messenger, Mr. Schuyler conveyed the Consul’s displeasure at the Mudir’s attribution of misery to the victims.

The Consul’s calculated response exhibited a diplomatic finesse that both condemned the Mudir’s callousness and appealed to a higher authority—the Sultan. By invoking the sublime goodness of the Sultan, Mr. Schuyler subtly signaled that the blame lay not with the suffering people but with the unjust actions perpetrated against them. The implicit warning about the Sultan turning attention to errant Mudirs added a layer of caution, creating a palpable tension in the diplomatic discourse.

Diplomatic Stratagem Utilizing Verbal Tactics for Change

The verbal exchange, orchestrated through Antonio, unfolded as a carefully choreographed dance of words. The Consul, through this indirect approach, managed to convey disapproval and an expectation of change without directly confronting the Mudir. By strategically employing compliments, veiled threats, and subtle admonitions, Mr. Schuyler attempted to shape the narrative surrounding Otluk-kui and its afflicted residents.

The Mudir, having endured this prolonged diplomatic joust, was left in a state of unease and awe. The encounter concluded with an announcement that the interview had concluded, leaving the Mudir to ponder the implications of this nuanced exchange. The diplomatic maneuver revealed that beneath the surface of formalities and polite discourse Travel Bulgaria, a silent struggle for justice and accountability was unfolding.

In the aftermath of this verbal joust, the fate of Otluk-kui remained uncertain. The diplomatic chess game continued, with each move carefully calculated to expose the truth, bring relief to the suffering, and hold those responsible accountable. The echoes of this exchange lingered, a testament to the intricate web of diplomatic maneuvers undertaken in the pursuit of justice in Otluk-kui.

Mudir’s orders were walked over

We asked them if they could not bring us some saddles also, and this they did with much alacrity, and some chuckling at the way in which the Mudir’s orders were walked over. Finally we mounted and got off. We had been besieged all the morning by the same people who had blockaded us the night before, or who appeared to be the same, their stories were so much alike.

We could do nothing but listen in pity to a few of them—for it would have taken all day to hear each separate tale of misery and suffering—and gave vague promises that we would do all in our power to relieve their misery upon our return to Constantinople. But diplomatic help is, alas ! very slow. While ambassadors are exchanging notes and compliments, inviting each other to dinner, making representations to the Porte, and obtaining promises which nobody believes in, these poor people are starving and dying.

Many of them decided to seize this opportunity and accompany us to Batak, to visit their ruined homes, and others caught our bridle reins, determined to make us listen to their stories before we should start. One woman caught my horse, and held it until she could show me where a bullet had traversed her arm, completely disabling her from work, and this was only the least of her woes Guided Istanbul Tours.

Husband killed

Husband killed, and little children depending on that broken arm for bread ; all of this told in a language so much like Russian that I could understand a great deal of it; so like Russian that I could easily have fancied myself amongst peasants of the Volga, or the denizens of the Gostinoidvor, Moscow. The resemblance is striking, and it is no wonder the Russians sympathies with these people.

You observe the same sort of family likeness about the eyes that may be always seen among brothers and sisters who are utterly unlike each other in features—tricks of countenance, movements of the hands, tones of the voice, even to that curious, uncertain expression of the face, which often in the Russian peasant makes it almost impossible to tell whether he is laughing or crying.

Zwatko Boyadjieff

In another place we were shown a black spot where an old blind man, Dondje Stregleyoff, was beaten half to death, and then thrown senseless on a heap of wood and burnt alive.

There was an old man here, Zwatko Boyadjieff by name, a public benefactor, a liberal contributor to the school fund, who in winter supported half the widows and orphans of the place, who was renowned for his charities to Christian and Turk alike. He was likewise seized, tortured, and maltreated.

His eyes were put out, and, after undergoing the most fearful torments, he was thrown on a heap of wood fainting or dead, the people do not know which, and burnt. They seized the priest Nestor, and cut off his fingers one by one to extort money, and as the poor man had none to give them they continued by cutting off his hands, and finally his head. We were shown in the yard of a neat little cottage, embowered in trees, a grave, beside which a woman was kneeling as we passed.

It was the grave of a young man of eighteen, who had just returned home from school when the troubles began, after an absence of two years, and who had taken no part in the outbreak. They had seized him, and in mere sport cut off his hands one by one in the presence of his mother, then killed him Turkey Sightseeing.

What made these acts more terrible was, that many of them were committed in the presence of the weeping relatives—wife, mother, brothers, sisters of the victims. And they were repeated by the hundred. It would take a volume to tell all the stories that were related to us. But it was not only old and young men who suffered; women, young girls, children, infants, were ruthlessly slaughtered.

These Turks have no pity, no compassion, no bowels. They have not even the pity of wild beasts. Even the tiger will not slay the young of its own species. But these Turks, these strong bearded men, picked infants up out of their cradles with their bayonets, tossed them in the air, caught them again, and flung them at the heads of the shrieking mothers.

King Ivan II Assen

During a siege of Thessaloniki the third brother also fell victim to another boyar plot: in the autumn of 1207 he was killed in his tent. One of the plotters – and nephew to Kaloyan – King Boril (1207-1218) ascended to the throne. A political crisis broke up. As the usurper Boril initiated a persecution of all Kaloyan’s relatives his two nephews, sons of the old king Assen, Ivan Assen and Alexander, lied to Russia. For some time, however, the conflicts along the borders of the country were suspended due to the treaties with the Lati n Empire and the Hungarian Kingdom but the resentment within sharpened Tours Bulgaria.

A factor that additionally jeopardized the crown became the movement of the Bogomils. So in 1211 Boril held the Council of Tumovo which condemned the new heresy. Uprisings broke up. Taking advantage of the confusion and assisted by a Russian military unit Ivan Assen II laid a continuous siege to the capital Tumovo, dethroned Boril and blinded him. Thus the successor of the Dynasty of the Assenids. King Ivan II Assen (1218-1241) came to the throne.

Ivan II Assen inaugurated a period of prosperity during which Bulgaria regained the frontiers it had achieved under Tsar Simeon the Great.

Diplomacy consolidated

An economic and cultural upsurge marked his rule. The new king’s diplomacy consolidated the state and strengthened the relations with the Latin Empire and Hungary. A peace treaty was signed with the ruler of the Epirus region Theodore Comnenus.

Ivan II Assen even engaged his daughter Elena to the Byzantine Emperor Baldwin II, still under age by the time.

But Theodore Comnenus violated the peace treaty and led a large army north- The Church of the Virgin of Petrich in Ivan II Assens Fortress.

Bishops and the Patriarch’s throne

Gold alone was not thought good enough for the altar; this was therefore made of a combination of gems set in silver and gold. The doors were of ivory, amber, and cedar, the outer one being silver- plated. The seven seats for the bishops and the Patriarch’s throne, forming a semicircle at the back of the altar, were all silver-plated. The building contains nearly every kind of known marble, comprising the green from Laconia, the white, black- veined Bosporus marble, the white Phrygian with its pink streaks, with others from Asia Minor and Egypt. The columns number 107 in all, of which 67 are in the galleries.

More or less extensive repairs have been effected by various emperors and sultans ; the last were in 1848, in the reign of Sultan Abd-ul-Medjid, and were entrusted to the Italian architects, Possati Brothers.

The Mosque of St. Sophia is 235 feet N. and S. by 250 feet E. and W. At its western end is an open court, the ancient Atrium (A), containing a round fountain, used for the Muhammadan ablutions. In the very centre of this court, very probably on the site of the Turkish fountain, stood the Phiale, a large marble basin with two jets of water constantly running, where worshippers performed their ablutions before entering the church, and which bore the inscription, NDBON ANOMH- MATA MH MONAN O’T’IN, signifying ‘ Cleanse thine iniquities, not thy face only curious from the fact of its reading the same whether perused the right way or backwards. The Outer Narthex (B) with its five doors was on the eastern side of the Atrium; and the belfry (C) was over the main entrance private istanbul tour. The Outer Narthex is devoid of any ornamentation; its five doors were called ‘ the Doors of the Armenians from the latter having taken part in the fifth General Council while the doors were being built. These gave access to the Inner Narthex.

MIXAHA NIKHTHN

Both the nartheces were reserved for catechumens and penitents. This latter hall is 205 feet long by 26 feet wide, and its walls and ceiling are covered with mosaic work. At its northern and at its southern sides are low doorways, giving access to the women’s galleries. The South porch, which is a double one, was reserved for the Emperor and his suite; it was erected by the Emperor Theo- philus, and is sheathed with bronze plating bearing several crosses and Byzantine monograms. At the top of the right-hand door is a fragment of an inscription, MIXAHA NIKHTHN (‘Michael of the Conquerors ’). All the doors bear crosses which the Turks have altered to resemble trident prongs.

The nave is entered through nine gates, the central one of which was formerly styled “ Pyle Vasilike ” or Royal Gate, and is that through which the Emperor entered, and where he was met by the Patriarch. On the bronze cornice over the gate is carved a lectern and a copy of the Gospels. The book is represented as open at the passage from St. John : ‘ I am the door : by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture ”. The four mosaic figures above this cornice are now but dimly visible through the wash the Turks have put over them. The figure between the medallions of the Virgin and St. John the Baptist is Christ seated on a throne. His right hand holds a volume open at the words ‘ Peace be unto you; I am the light of the world ’; and with his left he is blessing a kneeling emperor.

The first modern Bulgarian school in Plovdiv

The City Art Gallery of Plovdiv was set up in 1952. Its permanent exhibition is arranged in the historic building of the Girls’ School. The first modern Bulgarian school in Plovdiv, opened in 1850, was housed in a building on this site. It was also known by the name of SS. Cyril and Metho-dius Plovdiv Eparchial School. It was here that the day of the creators of the Bulgarian alphabet was first celebrated on May 11th 1856 on the initiative of Naiden Gerov and Yoakim Gruev.

Thus May 11th became an all-Bulgarian holiday during the Revival. In 1868 the Boys’ School grew into a secondary school and moved into another building, while the newly-founded Girls’ School was accommodated here. Soon after the Liberation the number of students increased and, moreover, it became necessary to build a girls’ secondary school, too. So in 1881 the present imposing building was erected on the site of the old school. It was designed by Joseph Schnitter, an architect from Plovdiv.

ICON COLLECTION

of the City Art Gallery 22 Saborna Street

The icon collection of the City Art Gallery of Plovdiv was founded in 1975. It was laid out in the school at the SS. Constantine and Helena Church. The icons in the exhibition belong to the 15th -19th centuries. They are remarkable works of art produced in Plovdiv and its area, but also in other parts of South Bulgaria bulgaria private tours. There are icons painted by the most eminent Revival artists such as Zahari Tsanyov from Tryavna, Hristo Dimitrov and his sons Dimiter and Zahari Zograf from Samokov, Nikola Odrinchanin and other representatives of the Tryavna, Samokov and Adrianople Schools of painting.

The old-world school building housing the collection has original architecture. It is a long rectangular structure whose shorter walls end in imposing triangular pediments, imparting to the house the appearance of an antique temple. The foundations of the building stand right on the fortress wall of the acropolis south of Hisar Gate and next to the so- called Round Tower.

‘TSANKO LAV RE NOV’ P ERMANENT EXHIBITION

(Kirkor Mesrobovich House) 11 Artin Gidikov Street

This exhibition of the work of the great artist Tsanko Lavrenov (1896 – 1978) has been displayed on the spacious ground floor of the Mesrobovich period-house since 2002. The paintings belong to the City Art Gallery fund of Plovdiv.

The house was built in 1846 on a perfectly symmetrical plan and has ceilings opulently decorated with woodcarving in all the rooms on the ground and upper floor. Its original owner Kirkor Mesrobovich, a notable Armenian from Plovdiv was a big landowner and money-lender and one of the founders of the ‘Brothers Mesrobovitch’ firm which continued in business for decades before and after the Liberation.

There is a second exhibition on the ground floor – of Mexican art, which displays works by Mexican artists of the 20th century. The rich collection was presented to Bulgaria on the occasion of the 1300th anniversary of the Bulgarian State and was first shown to the public in 1981 on its present site.

THE BULGARIAN BLACK SEA

The Black Sea is a half-enclosed kidney-shaped sea linked with the Mediterranean by the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.

It is bounded on the west by the Balkan Peninsula, on the north and east by the Russian plain and the Caucasus and on the south by the coast of Asia Minor in Turkey. It has low salinity and a high transparency — up to 16-20 m at an average depth of 1,690 m. The temperature of the water in summer averages 23° C.

The Bulgarian coastline (378 km) is less indented than the eastern and southern parts, but is very picturesque. The woody, gentle slopes of the Balkan and Strandja Mountains are covered with vineyards, orchards, trees and shrubs, and are known as the Bulgarian Riviera. Along the entire coast is an almost unbroken strip of fine sand and the sea is clean and shallow sightseeing turkey. Holiday resorts range from old and romantic fishermen’s settlements to the most modern complexes — all with lush greenery, fine sand and clear sea.

Nesebar

SHABLA – KAVARNA – BALCHIK – ALBENA – GOLDEN SANDS – DROUZHBA – VARNA (109 km)

Dourankoulak is the first Bulgarian village associated with the peasant revolt of May 1900. East of the village is Dourankoulak lake abounding in fish The large island in the lake has remains from various historical periods from the Stone Age to the 9th-11th century. Between the village and the beach is the Cosmos camp site for 500 tourists. There is a restaurant at the camp site.

South of Dourankoulak and 24 kilometres from the border is the town of Shabla (pop. 5,000). There was a Thracian settlement here in the 6th-5th century B.C. and it was a seaport in Roman times. The people of Shabla took an active part in the 1900 peasant revolt. About five kilometres east of the town is the Shabla Touzla, a tiny lake separated from the sea by a strip of sand. Its radioactive mud has curative properties. The Dobroudja camp site has a restaurant and a shop.

A road forks from Shabla leading to the sea. After about six kilometres it turns south along the coast to the village of Tyuelenovo, near which are several caves cut into the rocks by the sea and several colonies of seals have taken refuge here. Near the village of Kamen Bryag is the picturesque area of Yal] at a with beautiful rocks and caves. There is an ancient fortress and other interesting architectural and natural places.

Baba Vida Fortress

The town’s major historical monument is Baba Vida Fortress situated on the Danube. Built by Romans in the 3rd4th century, it was restored and expanded in the Middle Ages. In the 13th-14th centuries Bdin was the strongest fortress in North-west Bulgaria and continued to play an important part during Ottoman domination when it was restored and fortifled. Now the fortress contains a museum. Every two years the summer theatre plays host to drama festivals of historical plays.

Other points of interest are the mosque and library; The Cross Barracks, late 18th century, houses The History Museum. The Church of St Panteleimon built in the first half of the 17th century; the Church of St Petka, Hadji Angelov House — a two-storey building with two bay-windows typical of the National Revival Period.

There are several other memorials in the town commemorating battles fought over the last 100 years.

The town has a modem hotel — Rovno, 4 T.Petrov Str., two-star with 6 suites, 8 single and 132 double rooms, restaurant, day bar, cafe, duty free shop, rent-a-car service (tel.: 244-02 and 2-62-95). The Bononia Hotel is a five-storeyed, two-star hotel with one suite, 3 single and 48 double rooms, restaurant, bar, cafe and information office.

32 km southwest of Vidin is Bulgaria’s westernmost town, Koula i pop. 6,000). The Vrushka Chouka border check point on the Bulgarian-Yugoslav border is only 13 km away. In Roman times there was a settlement, called Castra Martis which was an- important fortress on the road from Ratiaria to Naisus. Ruins from this fortress are preserved in the town centre.

SOFIA – LOVECH _ VELIKO TURNOVO – GABROVO (260 KM )

Northeast of Sofia the road passes through the village of Yordankino near which Yordanka Nikolova, fighting against fascism, died a hero’s death: she is commemorated by a modest monument.

Between the villages of Potop and Chourek, on the right, is the monument to partisans from the Chavdar brigade which operated m the region during the 2nd World War sofia daily tours, The chalet opposite the monument has a small museum.

44 km from Sofia is the highest point of the picturesque Vitinya Pass. Here there is a restaurant, a food store and a petrol station.

Descending we reach Botevgrad (pop. 19,000), an important industrial and transport centre and the centre of Bulgarian industrial electronics. A beautiful clock tower (1866) stands in the town’s square. Hotels in the town include the Botevgrad hotel, 3 stars seven floors with 6 suites and 232 beds, a restaurant, day bar, night club, cafe, duty free shop, rooftop restaurant, post office; the Sinyo Nebe hotel (tel. 27-90) accommodates the ‘Rest and Recreation’ office.

On the E-83 motorway, 8 km from Botevgrad and 71 km from Sofia is the huge Pravets tourist compound, with a motel accommodating 60, a camping site situated round a pond, with 57 beds in bungalows, a hotel accommodating 104, restaurant, Shatra entertainment area, petrol station and car-repair shop.

The medieval Bulgarian culture

But the medieval Bulgarian culture was first and foremost a folk culture. Fresh creative forces were preserved among the people which, despite the most unfavourable conditions, continued to manifest their life in the forms which the new conditions permitted. The ardent creative fire died down, but there were enough embers left for the fire of Bulgarian creative genius to blaze up again 500 years later.

Memories of the people’s past were kept alive in the monasteries. Far from the great highways, usually tucked away in the gorges of inaccessible mountains, they preserved many Bulgarian books, and ancient works were copied and spread wide from here. Some of the finest examples of medieval Bulgarian art were preserved in these monasteries. And lastly new iconographers continued to be taught here, keeping alive the traditions of their predecessors. Iconography developed to a great extent in this period. Together with it, wood carving was given an impetus, and the goldsmiths created beautiful and original ornaments for clothing.

The copper and silver articles, mainly for the needs of the church, such as vessels, crosses, clasps and so on for bibles, are distinguished by their extremely fine workmanship. Finally, in the field of weaving and handicrafts, the Bulgarian decorative artist, that is the whole Bulgarian people, created such fine patterns, such decorative motifs as amaze one to this day by their colour scheme city tour istanbul, composition and fine craftsmanship.

Bulgarians were forbidden

The only branch of art which decayed greatly was architecture. In the first centuries of bondage the Bulgarians were forbidden to build churches or any kind of monumental building whatever. Only some of the notables, descendants of the old bolyar families who had survived, were able to build a small church or monastery here and there, and have it decorated with murals. When the Bulgarians were later once again allowed to build their own churches, the new Christian churches had to be small insignificant buildings, buried deep down in the earth, so as not to irritate the religious feelings of the «orthodox» believers. In full contrast to the small Christian churches huge mosques were now built by the Mohammedans, as well as Caravanserais, and konaks, as the governor’s residences or palaces were called.

But those who constructed these Ottoman buildings were again Bulgarian master- builders, who handed down from generation to generation the old feeling of the Bulgarian blinder for the monumental. And thanks to this when, in the 19th century, the hour of their National Revival struck for the long-suffering Bulgarian people, and new and more favourable conditions prevailed for building, the first big Bulgarian self-taught architects appeared out of the blue, men like Kolyu Ficheto, who created the first works of modern Bulgarian monumental architecture.

Bulgaria is indeed a country with an eventful history and many ancient and varied monuments. The Bulgarian people found a rich cultural and artistic heritage in the lands in which they settled 13 centuries ago. In the course of over one thousand years they created heir own original art, enriching the treasurehouse of mankind’s culture by many works of art. Much has been destroyed, by time and by the enemies of the Bulgarian people as well. But much has also remained, for the preservation of which the Bulgarian state does a great deal.

The numerous museums which have been founded of recent years in different towns of the Republic, wherever large scale excavation is in progress, have turned into real treasure-houses of archaeological, historical and artisticmonuments. But how many buried cities, how many rich treasures and valuable material still lie hidden in the Bulgarian land! In Bulgaria people in all walks of life take an unusual interest in the past of their country. The Bulgarian people highly value and preserve their monuments of the past. They also value and admire the monuments of all other peoples.