The label “fugitive” (or non-returner) reached Dr. Simeon Simov immediately after the establishment of the so-called rule of the people in 1944. And even though he fled the system, his entire life is marked by thought about Bulgaria , as being a true patriot, he has always had his country into his heart; even when it pulled its ugliest face at him.

A doctor of world renown, a collector, writer, music lover and benefactor – Dr. Simeon Simov has been switching from one role to another. And who knows – wouldn’t he have chosen medicine as his unique line if it weren’t to the September 9 coup in 1944.

“I ran away from Bulgaria for the simple reason that in 1944 it was not simply communism coming, but people got killed in the streets and in flats”, Dr. Simeon Simov recalls. “For example one of my grandfathers – Alexander Simov Gigov was killed because he was member of parliament. No one was interested of how much he had done for the regions of Breznik, Pernik, Tran. These were maddening times and a great disappointment.”

Born 87 years ago in the village of Konska near Breznik, Dr. Simeon Simov will take with him the secret of how he managed to reach Paris. However, the city of light met him with no embrace, since a law of long standing validity still prohibited medics with diplomas acquitted in other countries to practice medicine in France. That is why he made a career in Germany. There he developed his method for artificial insemination years before the “in vitro” method, thus helping 3400 children to come to life. It is abroad that his collector’s sparkle lit as well. And again in the subdued romantic atmosphere of Paris.

“One evening I was wandering around by the small shops near la Seine, where one can find all sorts of old things. I asked bouquiniste whether I could get a map of Bulgaria”, Dr. Simeon Simov further said. “Usually, when you go to a secondhand bookseller and ask for a map or a book about our country, the immediate answer would be ‘I have none’. But if you ask about a boon on Turkey, Greece or Romania, then you would be provided with different kinds of atlases on the region, where you find a map of Bulgaria as well. So, that very night, I told him I was a Bulgarian of modest means, but very much wishing to have a map of his country to look upon. Finally, I got in possession of an old map of 1700 for close to nothing at all.”

This was the beginning of his valuable collection of European maps, books, etchings and drawings created from the 4^th to the 19^th century. He donates a large part of this collection to the Bulgarian Archives. While following in the steps of his collector’s passion, he realized a remarkable fact – on all 450 maps from the times of the Ottoman Empire, kept in his collection, Bulgaria is present with its own name and borders.

“Until 1800 maps were really hard to read”, Dr. Simeon Simov explains. At that time most maps were drawn by hand, with the help of several people, who used to walk along a line, following for example the Danube River, and jotting down places and manes on a piece of paper. Nice, detailed maps start appearing after 1850, maps of Bulgaria included. The first map depicting in full our country dates back to 1737. It is a beautiful cartouche map, with an addition of a beautiful drawing of God and a king.”

The valuable possessions of the collector spread also over records of very rare music performances, pots of orchids, framed butterflies, cuisine books. His wish is for all that to remain in Bulgaria Up to date, Dr. Simeon Simov is returning to where his life started. He has bought a home in Sofia and is soon to leave his dwelling in sunlit Italy. And that, because he believes one day what is Good would definitely wipe out the ugly face of Evil.

English version: Iva Delcheva