Bulgaria marks in April 135 years since the declaration of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, which led to Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman domination. On the occasion of the war’s onset, publicist Stoyan Raitchevski has presented a luxury album entitled Monuments In Acknowledgement of Bulgaria’s Liberation. The volume is written in Bulgarian and Russian. Stoyan Raitschevski dedicated nearly 10 years to his work. His motivation, he explains, has come from a strong love for history and a desire to compile in a volume the significant tangible and intangible heritage of the Liberation of Bulgaria.
© Photo: BGNES
The commemoration monument at Schipka Peak
“I got the idea to create the book during the 125th anniversary since the Liberation of Bulgaria. We explored all literature sources for memorial signs and monuments related to the Russo-Turkish Liberation War", author Stoyan Raichevski explains. "We checked out all monuments and took pictures of them. Then we selected the most preserved ones and included them in the book. We also wanted to reconstruct monuments which in the course of time had disappeared. The volume presents monuments of perished soldiers and officers in the war: Russians, Ukrainians, Romanians, Finns, Poles, etc. All were part of different units in the Russian army. We shouldn’t fail to mention the Bulgarian volunteers who joined the war. However, the topic is quite huge and we’re planning to prepare a separate book on it”.
The album Monuments In Acknowledgement of Bulgaria’s Liberation is a project of the Federation for Friendship with the Peoples of Russia and the CIS, the Agency for Cooperation with Russia and the Russian Culture and Information Centre in Sofia. Stoyan Raithcevski visited almost all settlements in Bulgaria in which, according to sources, there were monuments. Some are emblematic of our history because they are related to decisive battles in the Russo-Turkish War, such as the Battle of Shipka Pass and the Siege of Pleven. Others are semi-buried and hardly visible. The local people reconstructed, cleaned and fenced in many of the monuments. “The Bulgarian people are believers and they respect those who have done them good”, comments Stoyan Raitchevski. “As a result, the majority of monuments have survived, despite political passions”. Therefore, the current album will have a strong impact on everyone aware of the casualties Bulgaria suffered to gain its liberation.
© Photo: www.popovo.bg
In memory of the soldiers from 140th Zaran company, near the village of Zarevo, Popovo region
“The album could get people to think more deeply about the price of liberty; many years have passed since the liberation war and time effaces living memory. Our freedom wasn’t granted to us; many Bulgarians and friends of Bulgaria gave their lives. Their exploit should be remembered because every man’s death is sacred. Each nation has performed astonishing feats. Therefore, each act of goodness should be respected, despite who has done it”, says further Stoyan Raitchevski.
The Bulgarian lands have kept many memorial signs from the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-29. The author has included in the album the photos of the more popular ones. According to Mr. Raitchevski, a number of monuments have been consciously destroyed or hidden after the reoccupation of the Ottoman army. Despite that fact, however, some of the preserved monuments have already been traced by various regional museums. Others have been printed on our historical memory alone.
English version: Vyara Popova
