PROYECTO COMENIUS Coordinator of the project :: ... :: ’s book “” enjoys the status of Bulgaria’s national novel... :: glory Bulgaria’s national reawakening and to articulate the ideas of the past, lest they be forgotten by post-liberation society.

His view of the Bulgarian national charac- ter had an enormous impact, and to this day his works remain an invaluable trea- sure of Bulgarian cultural history. Vazov is considered the patriarch of because he provided the high- est standards for future generations of writers, who would seek in his verse a so- IVAN VAZOV - THE PATRIARCH OF lution to their doubts and a confirmation THE BULGARIAN LITERATURE of their ideas. Ivan Vazov was in fact the founder of all the literary genres employed I.The most famous fact about our town So- by modern Bulgarian literature. His wide- pot is that the greatest Bulgarian writer ranging works are a brilliant manifestation was born here. of his artistic creativity. Partly because of Each country has its national poets. They his love of his homeland, its freedom and are people who were not only good at its nature, and his ability to incorporate writing but also at exposing the depths into his works Bulgaria’s traditions, his- of their fellow countrymen’s souls. When tory, morality, and national spirit, Vazov celebrating their greatest moments, such has come to be regarded as Bulgaria’s as Liberation Day on March 3, national poet. remember the one and only person that used poetry and prose to tell the world Ivan Vazov’s book “Pod Igoto” (“Under the of the Bulgarian soul, and the Bulgarian Yoke”) enjoys the status of Bulgaria’s na- struggle to become a nation again - Ivan tional novel. Set against the background Vazov. of the tragic April Uprising in 1876, it is an extended examination of Bulgarian char- After the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 and sent to , another town bearing the acter and the national awakening. From the restoration of its state independence, spirit of the Bulgarian revival, and was ap- his poems, the most significant are col- the new state began developing its culture pointed assistant teacher. After the years lected in the “Epopee to the Forgotten”, in entirely new conditions. During the first of exams in Kalofer, the young teacher true songs for the greatest Bulgarians in decades of freedom, Bulgarian govern- returned to Sopot to his father’s grocery history. ments were anxious to help the country out to help him with his work. But, thirsty for of the Orient and its backwardness, which more education and further development, stimulated the multifarious influences of the next year Vazov went to to Poem: Аз съм българче! modern European culture. The “European continue his education. Иван Вазов shift” affected all cultural spheres - educa- tion, science, literature and art. In a num- In Plovdiv, Vazov made his first steps as Аз съм българче и силна ber of cases the cultural accomplishments a poet. By his father’s wish he went to майка мене е родила; outstripped even the modernisation of the Oltinitsa, a university town in to с хубости, блага обилна state itself or its economy. study trade. But his soul was not keen to мойта родина е мила. explore the secrets of the economy. He Ivan Vazov was born in 1850 in the town was immersed in his world of poetry. Soon Аз съм българче. Обичам of Sopot, situated in the beautiful Valley he left Oltinitsa and went to Braila where наште планини зелени, of the Roses, one of the most poetic sites he met . Hardly anything else българин да се наричам the country has. Some people believe that in this world could have had a greater in- първа радост е за мене. it was one of the influences on the future fluence on Vazov than the revolutionary great poet and novelist. The other was the spirit of Botev, who was the moral father Аз съм българче свободно, struggle to overthrow Ottoman rule, which of the Bulgarian liberation struggle. Later, в край свободен аз живея, had for five centuries strangled the Bulgar- he himself took part in the process of lib- всичко българско и родно ian nation and limited its development. eration and after the Bulgarian state was любя, тача и милея. revived from the ruins of Ottoman rule, he Ivan Vazov also inherited a series of spe- was regarded as one of the most promi- Аз съм българче и расна cial virtues from his father, Mincho Vazov, nent figures in the country. в дни велики, в славно време, who was a trader and a true Bulgarian, син съм на земя прекрасна, bearing the spirit of the Bulgarian people For more than 50 years, Ivan Vazov was син съм на юнашко племе. that had inhabited these lands for so many the most highly regarded figure in Bulgar- centuries. His mother also strongly influ- ian literature. He was a citizen-poet who enced his development. considered the social mission of literature an organic part of the nation’s life and fate. After finishing school in Sopot, Vazov was He wrote his most compelling works to

“e-QUERCUS” PERIÓDICO BIANUAL IESO Quercus, Terradillos, Salamanca - http://e-quercus.es/ - 22 de junio de 2010 - Año IV - Núm. 7 41 PROYECTO COMENIUS Coordinator of the project

It is one beautiful Bulgarian poem we да висне кат облак в наший кръгозор; studied at 1st grade. This well could be нека ни отрича исторйята, века, the most popular and beloved poem for нека е трагично името ни; нека the Bulgarian people. Беласица стара и новий Батак в миналото наше фърлят своя мрак; I am Bulgarian* нека да ни сочат с присмехи обидни by Ivan Vazov счупенте окови и дирите стидни по врата ни още от хомота стар; I am Bulgarian and strong нека таз свобода да ни бъде дар! Bulgarian mother has born me Нека. Но ний знаем, че в нашто недавно beauties and goods so many свети нещо ново, има нещо славно, make my native land so dear. що гордо разтупва нашите гърди и в нас чувства силни, големи плоди; I am Bulgarian and love защото там нейде навръх планината, our mountains so green, що небето синьо крепи с рамената, to be called Bulgarian издига се някой див, чутовен връх, is the greatest joy for me. покрит с бели кости и със кървав мъх на безсмъртен подвиг паметник огромен; I am free Bulgarian защото в Балкана има един спомен, in place of liberty I live има едно име, що вечно живей everything native Bulgarian и в нашта исторья кат легенда грей, I cherish, observe and adore. едно име ново, голямо антично, патроните липсват, но волите траят, като Термопили славно, безгранично, щикът се пречупва - гърдите остаят I am Bulgarian and grow що отговор дава и смива срамът, и сладката радост до крак да измрът in days so great in time of glory и на клеветата строшава зъбът. пред цяла вселена, на тоз славен рът, I am son of land so wonderful О, Шипка! с една смърт юнашка и с една победа. I am son of tribe of courage. Три деня младите дружини “България цяла сега нази гледа, как прохода бранят. Горските долини тоя връх висок е: тя ще ни съзре, *The translation is not a professional one трепетно повтарят на боя ревът. ако би бегали: да мрем по-добре!” but made by the students from SOU “Ivan Пристъпи ужасни! Дванайсетий път Няма веч оръжье! Има хекатомба! Vazov” гъсти орди лазят по урвата дива Всяко дърво меч е, всякой камък - бомба, и тела я стелят, и кръв я залива. всяко нещо - удар, всяка душа - плам. Бури подир бури! Рояк след рояк! Камъне и дървье изчезнаха там. Here is another masterpiece poem by Ivan Сюлейман безумний сочи върха пак “Грабайте телата!” - някой си изкряска Vazov. Every Bulgarian knows it by heart и вика: “Търчете! Тамо са раите!” и трупове мъртви фръкнаха завчаска И ордите тръгват с викове сърдити, кат демони черни над черний рояк, и “Аллах!” гръмовно въздуха разпра. катурят, струпалят като живи пак! Върхът отговаря с други вик: ура! И турците тръпнат, друг път не видели И с нов дъжд куршуми, камъни и дървье; ведно да се бият живи и умрели, дружините наши, оплискани с кърви, и въздуха цепят със демонский вик. пушкат и отблъскват, без сигнал, без ред, Боят се обръща на смърт и на щик, всякой гледа само да бъде напред героите наши като скали твърди и гърди геройски на смърт да изложи, желязото срещат с железни си гърди и един враг повеч мъртъв да положи. и фърлят се с песни в свирепата сеч, Пушкалата екнат. Турците ревът, като виждат харно, че умират веч… насипи налитат и падат, и мрът; - Но вълни по-нови от орди дивашки Идат като тигри, бягат като овци гълтат, потопяват орляка юнашки… и пак се зарвъщат; българи, орловци Йоще миг - ще падне заветният хълм. кат лъвове тичат по страшний редут, Изведнъж Радецки пристигна със гръм. не сещат ни жега, ни жажда, ни труд...... Щурмът е отчаян, отпорът е лют. И днес йощ Балканът, щом буря зафаща, Три дни веч се бият, но помощ не иде, спомня тоз ден бурен, шуми и препраща от никъде взорът надежда не види славата му дивна като някой ек и братските орли не фърчат към тях. от урва на урва и от век на век! Нищо. Те ще паднат, но честно, без страх - кат шъпа спартанци под сганта на Ксеркса. Талазите идат; всичките нащрек са! The Volunteers At Shipka Последният напън вече е настал. August 11, 1877 Тогава Столетов, наший генерал, ревна гороломно: “Млади опълченци, What if we still carry shame on our forehead, венчайте България с лаврови венци! Marks of the whip, signs of bondage abhorrent; ОПЪЛЧЕНЦИТЕ НА ШИПКА на вашата сила царят повери What if remembrance of infamous days 11 август 1877 прохода, войната и себе дори!” Hangs like a cloud over all we survey; При тез думи силни дружините горди What if in history no place we’re allotted, Нека носим йоще срама по челото, очакват геройски душманските орди What if our name be a tragic one, what if синила от бича, следи от теглото; бесни и шумещи! О, геройски час! Old Belasitsa and recent Batak нека спомен люти от дни на позор Вълните намират канари тогаз, Over our past throw their deep shadows black;

“e-QUERCUS” PERIÓDICO BIANUAL 42 IESO Quercus, Terradillos, Salamanca - http://e-quercus.es/ - 22 de junio de 2010 - Año IV - Núm. 7 PROYECTO COMENIUS Coordinator of the project

What if men mockingly laugh in our faces, To die here like heroes triumphant, victorious. Bulgaria. Situated on the main road from Pointing to newly lost fetters, to traces “The whole of Bulgaria watches, supports us, Ruse on the Danube River through Stara Still on our necks of the ages-long yoke; The peak is a high one: if we run away, Zagora to Edirne (Adrianople) in Turkey, What if this freedom was gives our folk? She’ll see us – so better to die here today!” it was a strategically important pass and What of it? We know a recent true story, No weapons are left! What remains is the slaughter! was the scene of fierce fighting during the A shining new symbol, a symbol of glory, Each stone is a bomb and each tree-trunk a sword is. Russo-Turkish War (1877–78). The pass That proudly within every bosom pulsates Each object – a blow, and each soul – flame that was originally held by the Ottoman forces And noble strong feeling within us awakes; sears. of 4,000 men, but the Russian general There on a mounting that glows in the distance, From the peak every tree, every stone disappears. Joseph V. Gurko seized it by surprise in Heaven’s blue vault on its broad shoulder lifting, “Grab hold of the bodies!” they hear a voice crying, July 1877. In response, the Ottoman gen- Rises a famous wild peak with blood on its moss, At once through the air lifeless corpses are flying, eral Süleyman Paşa attacked Shipka in A monument huge to a deed that’s immortal, And over the hordes like black devils they dive August. The Russian force there, which Because a deep memory lives in the Balkans, And tumble and roll as if they were alive! included 7,500 Bulgarian volunteers, held Because there’s a name that shall live for all time, The Turks quake and tremble, not having seen ever the position against Süleyman’s 38,000. As bright as a legend in history it shines, The living and death fight a battle together, The battles for Shipka pass turned to be A new name, its roots to antiquity tracing, And raise a shrill cry of demoniac rage. the most important and heroic for the Bul- As great ad Thermopylae, all fame embracing, In life and death combat the armies engage. garian’s Liberation. Ivan Vazov wrote this A same to wipe shame away, with its plain truth Our heroes, there standing as steady as boulders, poem to honour those who sacrificed their Smashing to smithereens calumny’s tooth. Meet bayonet steel with steel breasts no less boldly, lives for our freedom. In the poem Ivan O Shipka! And sing as they cast themselves into the fray Vazov makes references to some of the For three days out youthful battalions When they realize Death shall now snatch them greatest battles in both the Bulgarian and The pass have defended. The high mountain valleys away. the ancient history. Re-echo the battle’s tumultuous roar. But still our young heroes rebuff, sink and swallow The onslaught’s ferocious! Again the dense hordes The hordes that is wave upon wave swiftly follow. Nowadays Shipka is a symbol of courage, Along the ravine for the twelfth time are crawling The peak any minute shall ours be no more. patriotism and peace not only for the Bul- Where warm blood is flowing and bodies are sprawl- Then suddenly arrives with a roar. garians but for the modern Turks also as ing...... it is a significant part of their history too. Assault on assault! Swarm on swarm they advance! And today, every time there’s a storm in the moun- Along with the thousands of Bulgarian, Once more at the towering peak Suleiman tain, Romanian, Finnish and Russian soldiers, is pointing: “Rush forward! Up there are the rayahs!” The summit recall this grim day and, recounting thousands of Ottoman young men lost Away race the hordes in a rage wild and dire, The story, its echoing glory relays their lifes on the Shipka slopes for their de- A thunderous “Attack!” re-echoes afar. From valley ti valley, from age unto age! votion to their countries. Every year when The summit replies with a rousing “Hurrah!”, celebrations are held at the Shipka peak, A hail of fresh bullets and tree trunks and boulders; Plovdiv, November 6, 1883 Bulgarian, Romanian, Russian and Turk- Spattered with blood, our battalions boldly Translated by © Peter Tempest. ish high level officials are there to honour Retaliate, every man in his own way All rights reserved the fallen soldiers and to declare the new Striving to be in the front of the fray, age through the new values of peace, Each, like a hero, death bravely defying, Shipka is a pass in the Balkan Mountains, friendship, solidarity and freedom. Determined to leave one more enemy dying. Cannon are pounding. The Turks with a cry Rush up the slope where they tumble and die; Coming like tigers, like sheep they go flying, Then come once again: the Bulgarians fighting Like lions are running along the redoubt, Neither heat, thirst nor toil are they worried about. The onslaught is fierce, the rebuff no less stout. For three days they fight but no help is arriving, And no hope is visible on the horizon, And no brother eagles come swiftly with aid. No matter. They’ll die, but die true, unafraid - As died the brave Spartans who stood against Xerxes. Fresh waves are now rolling up; all are alerted! A last effort’s needed: the moment is grave. And then does Stoletov, our general brave, Roar words of great courage: “Young volunteer fighters, Now crown Bulgaria with laurels of triumph! The Tsar has entrusted the pass, the whole war, Himself even, unto these muscles, of yours!” Thus heartened, our proud and heroic battalions Courageously meet the next thrust of the rallying Enemy hordes! O heroic time! Fresh waves of assailants the cliffs now climb. Our men have no bullets, with bravery girded, Their bayonets broken, their breasts ever sturdy, They’re all to a man ready gladly to die On the ridge which the whole of the world can descry,

“e-QUERCUS” PERIÓDICO BIANUAL IESO Quercus, Terradillos, Salamanca - http://e-quercus.es/ - 22 de junio de 2010 - Año IV - Núm. 7 43 PROYECTO COMENIUS Coordinator of the project

At the birthplace of Ivan Vazov Was your beauty not the reason The presence of Bulgaria’s most famous For me to be a singer? poet, immortalised in a quaint museum, And the passion it ignited, resounds through this Rose Valley town To my homeland and the sky of Sopot. Ivan Vazov is a towering figure whose un- I am a flower in the Balkans, flinching love of his homeland and literary I am a power yet unknown, masterpieces have permeated the con- I am the violence of storm; sciousness of subsequent generations. Breaking the wings of eagles. Perhaps his most famous work was his account of Ottoman rule, Under the Yoke, These were the majestic words of Sopot’s as well as the magnificent ode, Epic of the most famous son and Bulgaria’s most cel- Forgotten, and memorable short stories, ebrated poet, Ivan Vazov, in his poem Na- One Bulgarian Woman and Old Yotso tive Flower, verse that remained unpub- Stare. More than 50 of his poems are still lished in his lifetime. recited alongside Bulgarian folk songs. His revolutionary poems, The Fight Has Come Vazov’s words spring to life when you visit and A Banner, both written in the turbulent his home and birthplace of Sopot in cen- spring of 1876, were popular marching tral Bulgaria. songs during the April uprising.

Sopot, cradled by the Balkan, lies in the His songs, the militant and pathetic Rebels fertile mountain valley of Karlovo in the of Panagyurishte and Radetski, the lyric western part of the Rose Valley, so named Where is Bulgaria and Two Beech Trees, because of oil-bearing roses that fill the the fascinating song of the blue squill have surrounding air with a dizzying aroma become enshrined into Bulgarian folklore. when they blossom in late spring. In Oc- through his patriotic works. These display the true national character tober the golden autumnal backdrop, crisp - and immortality - of his beautiful creative air and pink-tinted light make a trip to the If you enjoy the mountains there is a lift sta- oeuvre. This immortality, which Vazov area equally enjoyable. tion only 2-3 km away. The lift’s open chair himself foresees, appears in the following will take you to the central Balkan Nation- verse, revealing the unlimited power and Sopot is named after its abundant foun- al Park where you can feel the mystical beauty of his songs: tains – the name Sopoh means a spring – power of the magnificent mountain tops: and cold water bubbles up through ditches Malak Kupen, Goliam Kupen, Petkov ka- throughout the town. Sopot’s cobbled, mak, Ostro burdo, Dobrila and, the high- The strong breath of the Balkan they carry, winding streets are also home to many est of all, Ambaritsa. And when you climb And the sound of the harmonies hidden deep, fine example of Revival period architec- the mountain perhaps the poet’s verses And the rolling thunder of nation’s glory, ture, usually hidden behind evergreen will reverberate through your mind. But my songs will forever they repeat shrubs, lilac and fragrant flowers. Oh, proud mountains, where mighty They echo with the spirit of the people, If you walk along the old cobbled streets of Eagles circle the blue skies, Which won’t die until our hearts still beat Sopot you can find old houses that reso- Thy magnificent bosom With joy and sorrow in our homeland freed nate with the architectural achievements I embrace with thirsty eyes But my songs will forever they repeat. of Sopot during the Revival period. Sacred to all Bulgarians are those sites in Sopot related to Vazov’s novel Under the Yoke. The childhood family home of Ivan Vazov is just off the main square – which con- tains his statue. The house was converted into a museum in 1935. When you enter the museum you find a delightful cobbled courtyard resplendent with boxed shrubs, wooden beams and overhanging vine tres- tles. The living quarters contain traditional emblazoned fleece rugs, crimson carpets and covers as well as a small dining room with copper and ceramic pots and wooden barrels of wine.

Two large exhibition rooms, opened in 1970, relate Vazov’s life and work. Here you can find an artist’s impression of the unique characters from Vazov’s short story Haji Ahil and the short novel Chicho- vtsi (The Uncles). Each room conveys the atmosphere of the Revival period, ensur- ing that Bulgaria’s national poet lives on

“e-QUERCUS” PERIÓDICO BIANUAL 44 IESO Quercus, Terradillos, Salamanca - http://e-quercus.es/ - 22 de junio de 2010 - Año IV - Núm. 7