| Stories,
myths, and legends – they all portray the atmosphere of the old
Bulgarian land which feels close and familiar to us in a special
way. The roots of the Bulgarian people reach far before
the official formation of the Bulgarian state. For thousands of
years this land had been the cradle of one of the most ancient and
culturally unique civilizations: the Thracians. Its presence still
lives in the thousands of tumuli and the exquisite architectural
monuments locked inside them; the numerous fortresses, temples,
sanctuaries, and oracle sites marked by the past greatness and turbulent
times. The Thracian culture provokes our curiosity with its mythic
heroes and rites inspired by the belief of the ancient people in
the four basic cosmic elements: Air-Earth-Water-Fire, and the cult
of the Sun and the Goddess-Mother. The Bulgarian folklore has still
preserved pagan rites such as mummery and dancing on live coal,
and they may still be observed in their authentic form in the Strandja
Mountain, the Rhodopes, and the region of Pernik. |
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The greatness of the buried treasures of the astonishing Thracian culture often takes our breath away: the Rogosen, Panagyurishte, Valchitran treasures are well known. The oldest and biggest golden treasure in the world was found in the Varna Necropolis. More than 5,000 years old, dating before the rise of Egypt, the region of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Persia, and India, this discovery forced historians to reshape their understanding of the development of human civilization. The murals in the Kazanlak, Sveshtar, and Alexander tombs are amongst world-famous masterpieces. The discoveries in the complex of Thracian ritual sites at the architectural and historical reservation of Sborianovo are sensational: 250 tumuli, 150 of which are exactly 1900 meters apart (approx. 5,700 feet), and represent a precise mirror image of 44 different constellations. Eight of them are duplicated: evidence of knowledge well ahead of the achievements of modern astronomy. Another indication of the extraordinary artistic and technical abilities of the Thracians is their ritual center near Starosel – a grandiose sanctuary and residence of the ruler of the Odrin Kingdom. The latest discovery is the Holy City of Perperikon in the Rhodopes. Herodotus called it the Holy Mountain, and chronicled that it was home to the famous Temple of Dionysus, equal in significance to the Temple of Apollonius in Delphi. An enormous Thracian rock city, a sacred palace where priests delivered prophecies, an ancient fortress, a Byzantine eparchial center, holy territory… Perperikon is all that! Herodotus also states that the Thracians are the second largest people only to the Hindu people. They gave to classical antiquity the gods Dionysus, Hefest, Artemida, Kibela… Thracians were also Orpheus and Spartacus; Thracians took part in the Trojan War. The oldest alphabet in the world, some 6,800 years old, was discovered in Bulgaria near the town of Montana. The ancient Bulgarian calendar was acknowledged to be the most precise in the world, and along with the seven-rayed rosette from the town of Pliska, symbol of the seven planets known in the old days, is a clear evidence of the rich astronomical knowledge of the ancient Bulgarians. The recently discovered historical document, “Names of the Bulgarian Khans,” indicates that the Bulgarian state was founded some 515 years earlier than what was originally believed. This information imposes a new interpretation of the symbolism of the rock relief near Madara – the only monument in Europe of such magnitude.
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Monasteries are among the many treasures of Bulgaria. There are about 160 active and inactive temples within the country. They are embellished with frescos and intricately carved wooden icons. Some are in possession of valuable gospel transcripts and icons known to have performed miracles. The earliest cloisters in Bulgaria date back to the 4th - 6th centuries A.D., when the first rock monasteries emerged. Later they became a refuge to the followers of Hesychasm: a teaching about the divine energy. Many of the monasteries in Bulgaria have suffered a tragic fate; plundered, destroyed, burned down, they have re-emerged over and over again to continue to be the source of spirituality and faith. Today they attract not only orthodox Christians, but also anyone who cherishes iconography, woodcarving, and frescos. Most monasteries are remotely situated in beautiful natural habitats. Many were built on the ruins of ancient sanctuaries and still possess their sacred atmosphere. Every single monastery has its own legend, brought to life by mysterious traditions, whose roots fade into the distant past…
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The architecture, frescos, icons, and woodcarvings in the Botchkovo, Rojen, Preobrajenye, and Troyan Monasteries are magnificent. But the most impressive architectural ensemble that incorporates the skill of many artists of the revival period is the Rila Monastery. Along with the Boyana Church, The Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, and The Ancient City of Nessebar, the Rila Monastery is inscribed in The World Heritage List of UNESCO.
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The remains of the three old Bulgarian capitals: Pliska, Veliki Preslav, and Veliko Tarnovo are remarkable. The biggest town of the Middle Ages, Pliska, was 15 sq. miles. The impressive palace of the ruler Krum was built with the most massive base in the world. It had sewers, running water, and central heating. The greatest architectural monument of the time is the Great Basilica, whose 8, 760 sq. feet made it the biggest Christian church on the Balkans. In Preslav the Bulgarian people were converted to Christianity; here we welcomed the students of Cyril and Metodii – creators of the Cyrillic alphabet. The round Church in Preslav, evidence of the bloom of the Bulgarian state and its Golden Age, strikes our admiration and amazement. In those days, Bulgaria was a power respected by all European rulers, Barbarian tribes, and Byzantium. More than 20 towns and villages today are architectural and historical reservations: the Old Plovdiv town, Koprivshtitza, Etara, Bojentzi, Tryavna, Zjeravna, Melnik, Sozopol… They have still preserved the spirit of the Middle Ages and the coziness of the old Bulgarian homes built on cobblestone streets with their wooden verandas and colorful rugs; with the warmth of the stone, the peace and quiet, where one returns to their roots.
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This
is it!
A brief review of the uniqueness and originality of Bulgaria, its
authenticity, natural beauty, where myth and reality merge; where
each corner whispers legends of visible and invisible Bulgarian mysteries…
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