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Newsletter 5 October, 2017

This document was created within the Strandja fest project, ref. No CB005.1.22.056 under the Program Interreg for Cross- Border Cooperation - 2014-2020, the European Union through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, as well as the two partner countries Bulgaria and Turkey. Full responsibility for the content of this document is taken by the Prosveta Chitalishte 1914 - and under no circumstances can it be considered that this document reflects the official opinion of the European Union and the Contracting Authority. Where and what are they celebrating in Strandja in October ? st 14 of October- Fest and meeting in , . It is located 5 kilometers south of , 20 kilometers from the town of Tsarevo, and 95 kilometers from the city of . Old names: Kalandzoi, Galandzha, Kalandzha. Its contemporary name is a literal translation of the Greek word “galaza” – “sky-blue.” Population: 342 residents It is situated on a high bank, south of the river outflow. Ceramic fragments dating back to V-IV c B.C. and the Middle Ages were found during underwater studies in Potamya bay, which is located north of Sinemorets village. Anchors and lead bindings of an ancient ship were also found. There are Thracian burial mounds and traces from a small fortress on the peninsula. The patron of the church in Sinemorets is St. George. There is an interesting icon of “Modestus of Jerusalem.” The patron of the farmers and shepherds is depicted between two trees over a ploughman with oxen, a shepherd with his flock, a horde and a buffalo. The presence of domestic scenes is associated with the advent of realism in iconography in the late nineteenth century. After the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, Sinemorets remained within the territory of Turkey. Refugees from Eastern settled on its lands. The population made their living with agriculture, charcoal-burning, and fishing. The “Veleka river outflow” protected area is situated north of Sinemorets and enthralls with beautiful landscape, interesting rock formations – with “the Sphinx”, “the Doves” and “the Split Rock” being the most attractive ones. The river and its valley are characterized by diverse fauna – grey heron, great egret, cormorants, crested grebes, common kingfisher, dice snake, otter and many fish species. To the south of Sinemorets is the “” protected area, which offers a nestling bay at the outflow of Silistar river, among oak forests. The Butamyata area is the natural habitat of orchids and mulleins, and the entire coast Sinemorets village- The mouth of Veleka offers an interesting view of strangely deformed by the sea breeze trees. Today Sinemorets and the Church in the village of Sinemorets attracts visitors with its secluded beaches in sheltered bays along the coast of Strandja. http://www.strandja.bg 14st of October 2017 –Fest near the chapel of Saint Petka near the village Byala Voda. It is located 45 kilometers from the city of Burgas, and 43 kilometers from the town of Malko Tarnovo, 300 m a.s.l.Old name – Konak. A konak – road station - existed near the old road, traces of which are found to the south and north of the village in the direction of Malko Tarnovo. The travelers crossing Strandja used to stay at it overnight. Population: 38 residents The village is located at the foot of Bosna peak, over one of the tributaries of Mladejka river. Its surroundings are covered with thick forests of Fagus orientalis, hornbeam, Quercus frainetto, and Quercus cerris. The remnants of an ancient settlement can be seen in Gradishteto area. A Thracian mound necropolis impresses visitors to the south, and a Thracian and late Antiquity fortresses to the southeast - in the Kungyov grave area, over a high hill on the left bank of Mladejka river. The signs found in the village area indicate that here there was a sanctuary of Zeus, Hera and Hercules. A golden eagle, Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi, woodpecker, lesser spotted eagle, and others can be seen in the region. There are several caves in the surroundings. One of them – Helena’s hole – is related to an old legend about the dragon, the beautiful girl Helena, and the gold treasure. The Byala voda village. Sanctification of the St. holiday of Byala voda is celebrated on the Day of St. Iliya – July 20. Petka Chapel 19st of October 2017. A large number of worshippers gather in the monastery on Church St. Ivan Rilski October 19 – the Day of St. John of Rila (St Ivan Rilski). People from more distant -the picture below places also visit the place as well as sick people with the hope of healing themselves... http://svetimesta.com, www.strandja.bg

19st of October 2017- Fest of Saint Luka in , It is located 4 kilometers south of the main road Bosna-Vizitsa-Papazova niva, 44 kilometers from the town of Malko Tarnovo, and 61 kilometers from the city of Burgas; 260 m a.s.l. Old name: Zaborna – from the Thracian language root “berna” – full, abundant.Population: 103 residents. Located at the foot of Bosna–Ugrash ridge. The Ugrash hill is a watershed between Dudenovska and Zelenikovska rivers (to the north), Oryashka river (to the east), and Strumnitsa and Zaberska rivers (to the south). Ugrash is a universally-acknowledged haidouk gatherings place, where the detachments of famous Strandja voivodes met, among which Strati voivode. Near the village there are many Thracian and ancient monuments – dolmens from the tenth century B.C. and mound necropolises. The remnants of an early Byzantine fortress have been localized 4 kilometers southeast of Zabernovo at a turning of Stramnitsa river. Traces of metallurgical activity has been found in the Rupite area. According to Goro Gorov, up until the XIV century the land of Zabernovo hosted the Parorian monastery complex of Gregory of Sinai, founder of Hesychasm. Zabernovo is the birthplace of the popular in the early XX century children‘s writer Grandfather Blago (Stoyan Rusev) and the most famous folklorist and researcher of Strandja Goro Gorov. The village fair is on the Day of the Dormition of the Mother Zabernovo of God (August 28). village St. Luka Church The oldest rural church in the interior of Strandja, which has survived until nowadays. It dates Saint Luka back to the ХVІІ century and is a monument of culture. It is low, and almost half of it is sunken Church in the ground. The walls are built with stone blocks. The apse is decorated on the outside with a brick ornament “wolf’s tooth” and a travertine block with a raised equal cross. There are five http://svetimesta.com niches at the altar, and in the middle there is a round window with a grid of two crossed sticks. The open narthex and the school room belong to a later construction period (nineteenth century). Today the room, which is a type of church school, is reconstructed and open to visitors.

26 st of October 2017–Fest meetings in the day of Saint Dimitar,

In Prohod Village in Municipality Sredets

In Dimchevo village in Municipality Bourgas

In village, Malko Tarnovo municipality. It is located 14 kilometers northwest of the town of Malko Tarnovo and 64 kilometers from the city of Burgas, 320 m a.s.l. Old name: Surmashik. Its current name is its literal translation. Population: 44 residents The village is nestled in a picturesque valley, overgrown with oak and beech forests. The mythic meadows, covered with dewy, and associated with the legend of its magical power at certain times of the year, are located in its surroundings. Upon arrival at the architectural reserve in Brashlyan village you will see that you have entered a very special place and that a truly unique walk in the past is yet to begin for you – narrow streets, which seem to resonate the steps of young women and men once walking on them, two-hundred-year-old rural houses listed as cultural monuments, an old church from the ХVІІІ century with a renovated monastery school. Listen to the story of its creation during the troubled years under Ottoman yoke. Explore the agricultural open- air museum, visit the ethnographic exhibit and definitely try to weave on a loom. Marked tourist trails will lead you to some of the most beautiful spots in the surroundings of the village – to venerable trees, chapels, dolmens, mound necropolises or habitats of rare vegetal species, the wild orchids in the Gogovo area for example. Shelters, which offer an excellent opportunity for recreation in the nature, have been built in the Two Vris, Boriloto, Kobarelovata watermill and St. Pantaleon areas. If you happen to be in Brashlyan on August 9, you will have the chance to celebrate with the locals the most important holiday for them – the day of the patron of their village – St. Pantaleon.

St. Dimitar Church The place where the church was built in the end of the ХVІІ century has once been home to an ancient Thracian sanctuary. It is believed that it was dedicated to Dionysus – the god of fertility and wine. The St. Dimiter Church is a typical representative of the local Renaissance religious architecture. It was declared a cultural monument in 1975, and an architectural monument of national importance in 1982. The unique bell from the first half of the nineteenth century, cast in the Jaroslavl city, Russia, can be seen even today. The temple is sunken in the ground and in the past it was surrounded with a Brashlyan village, Malko Tarnovo wall, about 2.5 meters high. The central internal space was sunken, in order to municipality increase the internal expanse. An impressive design of the façade was sought 1. House in traditional architecture for the outside, which was achieved through well-carved blocks of freestone. 2. Sedyanka in Brashlyan The open vestibule (narthex) with room for small school were added to the 3 и 4 Church Saint Dimitar building in 1870. A marble altar of Zues – Dionysus was built in the pulpit of the church, with Source: www. Strandja.bg inscription in ancient : , www. Svetimesta.com Of Zeus-Dionysus an altar I made here, , Lycomedes, son of Cross and the Great Priest of Bacchus,

For the great honor, through lot received, and for my children, And for my initiates. Save them, please, blessed Dionysus! Some scientists believe that the name of Zeus-Dionysus is denoting Dionysus as the supreme God – one of the names of the Son of the Great Mother Goddess.

27 st of October 2017–Fest meetings in the day of Saint Petka in Orlintsi village , Munnicipality Sredets

Church in Orlintsi village There are no festivals and holidays in Turkish part of Strandja in October http://vardarsko.org/