Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first Bulgarian diplomat Nayden Gerov

Nayden Gerov (1823 - 1900)
Photo: Archive

Today, 23 February, is the bicentenary of the birth of the great Renaissance scholar, educator, writer and public figure Nayden Gerov. He was one of the most ardent defenders of the Bulgarian identity and the first Bulgarian diplomat, serving for 20 years as Russian Vice-Consul in Plovdiv from 1857 to 1877. 

During the Crimean War (1853-1856) he supported the national liberation movement and made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian education. As vice-consul in Plovdiv from 1857 he was actively involved in the social affairs, and during the April Uprising in 1876 as an official in the Russian embassy in Constantinople he supported the Bulgarians' struggle for national freedom. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 he was posted to the headquarters of the Russian army, after which he was appointed governor of the first liberated town of Svishtov. 

After Bulgaria gained its independence, Nayden Gerov retired from politics and settled in Plovdiv to devote himself to enlightenment of the Bulgarian people. He was the first Bulgarian to create a multi-volume dictionary of the Bulgarian language with 70,620 words, 10,000 proverbs, 5,976 excerpts from folk songs, 4,300 idioms and expressions. 

The national awakener died on October 9, 1900, leaving a rich correspondence that reveals important moments of political and cultural life and education during the Renaissance.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker – the embodiment of selfless mercy

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on December 6.  He is called the saint of mercy because his entire life was dedicated to supporting the poor, the suffering, the innocent and the wronged. His words had an..

published on 12/6/24 5:30 AM
Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov in The Olduvai Gorge in Tanzaniaл

Bulgarian expedition to explore the "dawn of humanity" in Africa

A group of Bulgarian scientists is leaving today for the Republic of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe . On the initiative of the Explorers Club Bulgaria, the researchers will research into the origins of Homo sapiens in these places.  The..

published on 12/5/24 8:55 AM
Icon to Saint Varvara

Bulgarians mark the feast of Saint Varvara also known as Women's Christmas

Today, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the holy great martyr Varvara - a maiden from a noble family, beheaded for her Christian faith at the beginning of the 4th century.  The day is also called Women's Christmas . This name comes from..

published on 12/4/24 6:05 AM