One of the most important cultural figures of medieval Bulgaria was Patriarch Evtimi of Tarnovo. He lived during the final years of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and played a key role in preserving Bulgarian culture and language. Patriarch Evtimi founded a literary school in Tarnovo, which became an important center for the spread of Bulgarian literature and education.
He was a highly respected writer and scholar. Patriarch Evtimi wrote many biographies of saints and martyrs, which were widely read and copied. His most famous work is the Life of St. John of Rila, one of the most important Bulgarian saints. Through his writings, Evtimi helped protect the purity of the Bulgarian language and strengthen spiritual life at a time of great political danger The Beginnings of Bulgarian Culture and Language.
Under the Turkish Rule
In 1396, Bulgaria fell under Ottoman Turkish rule. This event marked the beginning of a very dark period for Bulgarian national culture. Almost all forms of organized cultural life stopped. Books were no longer written or translated into Bulgarian, and many existing manuscripts were destroyed. Writers, scholars, and church leaders were often killed or forced into silence.
As a result, Bulgarian literature could no longer develop freely within the country. Cultural activity was pushed into exile or hidden in monasteries. Despite these harsh conditions, Bulgarian culture did not disappear completely City Tour Istanbul.
Bulgarian Literature in Exile
Many Bulgarian writers escaped to other Slavic lands, where they continued to write in Bulgarian and preserve the national tradition. One of the most important writers in exile was Grigori Tsamblak. In 1414, he was elected Metropolitan of Kiev. He died around 1450, after writing more than fifty theological works, all in the Bulgarian language.
Thanks to his influence, Bulgarian remained an official church language north of the Danube, in regions that are now part of Romania. This helped keep the Bulgarian literary tradition alive far beyond the borders of Bulgaria.
Another important writer in exile was Konstantin Kostenechki. He settled in Serbia, where he founded a literary school. Konstantin prepared a Bulgarian grammar that emphasized a phonetic approach to the alphabet. His work was important for the later development of the modern Bulgarian language.
The Double Yoke and Threat to National Identity
From 1396 to 1878, Bulgaria lived under a double yoke. The first was political domination by the Ottoman Turks. The second was spiritual domination by the Greek clergy, who controlled the Bulgarian church and education. Together, these pressures seriously threatened the survival of Bulgarian national identity.
For many years, Bulgarians were at risk of losing their language, history, and cultural memory. However, a turning point came in the eighteenth century.
Father Paisi and the National Awakening
In 1762, a monk named Father Paisi of Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos wrote Slavonic-Bulgarian History. This work became the foundation of the Bulgarian National Revival. In his book, Paisi expressed deep pride in Bulgaria’s past and reminded Bulgarians of their historical achievements.
His message awakened strong national feelings and encouraged Bulgarians to preserve their language and traditions. This book played a crucial role in preventing the assimilation of the Bulgarian people.
From the National Revival to Modern Literature
Father Paisi’s work was written by hand, as there was still no printing press in Bulgaria at that time. Even so, copies of his book spread widely. Bulgarian literature began to grow out of the national revival inspired by this single work.
In 1813, the poet Dimitar Popov wrote a famous ode dedicated to Sofronii of Vratsa, another leader of the national revival. In 1845, the first poem written in modern Bulgarian, Stoyan and Rada, was published by Nayden Gerov (1823–1867).
Other important writers and poets of this period include Georgi Rakovski (1821–1867), Petko Slaveikov (1828–1895), and Dobri Chintulov (1823–1886). The greatest Bulgarian poet of the nineteenth century was Hristo Botev (1848–1876). He combined poetry with revolutionary activity and died fighting for Bulgaria’s freedom.
