THE BULGARIAN WRITERS OF NATIONAL REVIVALS

After Bulgaria fell under Ottoman supremacy, the whole culture of the country is in decline. Buildings of mosques and houses in oriental style, part of which are saved until now, is very intense. In the first decades of the foreign supremacy there was a ban for the buildings of orthodox temples. It was allowed later the building of churches, but only if they are low, not higher than a Turkish soldier sitting on a horse. The calligraphic and marginal art is being developed only in the monasteries, away from the Ottoman’s sight. The copies of the first two centuries are limited. After special permit from the High Gate during XVII century becomes the building of new monasteries. There were new iconography schools, also new schools in the art of carved alters and the building of church and monasteries. Beyond the voted canon of autocephalous Bulgarian church stands the canon of the Greek orthodox, which requires according to the sultan’s permit, all writings on the icons as long as the divine service, to be performed in Greek language. The fight for church freedom lasts more than a century and ends with winning of full independence for the Bulgarian church, which gives new breed for the schools in iconography and carving, the most famous of which are the schools from Triavna, Debur and Bansko. Zahariy Zograf is known for every Bulgarian, his students create s new style in the iconography.

From the icons we see the faces of ordinary people, church-donors and rich patrons of the spiritual life in Bulgaria. The forgotten and less-known calendar and church holiday were renovated, the Bulgarian holiday folklore is in its golden ages. There were created new songs about heroes, outlaws, peace, labor, the nature and God. Bulgaria enters its Renaissance. Paisiy’s “Slav-Bulgarian History” was written and regains the historic memory of the Bulgarian, his self-esteem, national consciousness and spirit for freedom. This little book in its various rewritings has done more than dozens of unsuccessful riots would do. Before this book were know the histories of the Bulgarian people written from Blazius Klainer and Raino Popovich, but they were know by few of the intelligent young people which were in other countries. One of the copyists of the Paisiy’s History is a bishop Sofroniy Vrachanski, a writer and spiritual leader himself. The architecture of the Bulgarian national revival is typical for Bulgaria. Today we can see lots of neighborhoods and centers of cities, as long as with whole villages, saved from the time. Cobblestone pavement, the sloping terrains, the moved forward erker-balconies, the small windows, the colored stylized figures on the roofs of the houses, especially in bright colors, are very typical. The main materials of the craftsmen in these days are wood, stone and lime. The interior stuns us with the intimacy of its decisions. The ringed floor, the little sagging heart and chimneys, the carved ceilings, the low small doors and the window seats are emblematic for the new architecture style, named later on “alafranga”. Such cities are Koprivshtitza, Turnovo, Plovdiv, Shipoka Laka, Triavna, Gabrovo, Elena, Kotel, Bozhenci, Melnik and many others. They are favorite places for artists, poets and musicians, visited from many tourists from all over the world. The crafts from the past are also very interesting best shown at the Museum of the Artistic Crafts Etara around Gabrovo, in Dobrich, Plovdiv, Triavna and etc. The building of unique in their style buildings and bridges gives unforgettable aspect of the Renaissance cities. Universally recognized craftsman in these years is Nikola Fitchev, build for generations extraordinary churches, unique bridges, buildings and fountains. The new Bulgarian literature regains its strength. Along with the teacher poetry and didactic prose is born the playwright, the first Bulgarian typed books are also made. The names of Dobri Chintulov, Petko Slaveikov, Lyuben Karavelov and Georgi Rakovski in the literature, Vasil Drumev, Krasyo Pishurka and Dobri Voynikov in drama are well known. The genius of Botev is a result from a long process of maturing of the Bulgarian intellectuals from these days. Even the apostle of liberty Vasil Levski tries to write and besides epistolar literature leaves us autobiographic poem, interesting with its sincere style and national sound. The first models of political satira are born, the feuilleton and epigram which best author is Hristo Botev. Grandfather Slaveykov gathers over 150 000 folk-sayings and proverbs. Brothers Miladinovi, Grigor Parlichev and Kuzman Shapkarev also write down the folklore of the Macedonian Bulgarians, create marvelous works. with the development of education, the cultural life of Bulgaria moves with fast steps. There are new schools and high-schools were built. In the middle of 19th century Vasil Aprilov creates the famous Gabrovska High-School, named later on after him. Doctor Petar Beron writes the first textbook called “Riben Bukvar”. Lots of Bulgarians study abroad – in Russia, Germany, Italy and France.