Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Ancient engravings from former French College of St. Augustine to be put on display in Stara Zagora

Photo: artgallerystz.com

The collection of the museum of the former French College of St. Augustine, put together in the course of decades by the monks, will be on display at the Art Gallery in Stara Zagora until 20 October, the Bulgarian news agency BTA reports. Most of the works are copper engravings made in the studios of the Сhаlсоgrаfуе dе Lоuvrе over a period of almost 200 years – from the 18th up until the turn of the 20th century.

The French College of St. Augustine was created in Plovdiv by the order of the Assumptionists on 3 January, 1884. The congregation of the Assumptionists was founded in 1850 by father Emanuel d’Alzon /1818-1880/, vicar general of the diocese in Nimes, France and headmaster of Collège de l'Assomption from which the name of the new catholic order was derived. The order was blessed by Pope Pius IX to pursue an educational mission in the Eastern part of Europe, which was part of the Ottoman Empire.

Before Bulgaria’s liberation, in 1863, a catholic school opened doors in the town – St. Andrew, making Plovdiv the first mission of the Assumptionists. The teachers at the school were monks who had graduated from elite educational establishments in Western Europe – the Sorbonne in Paris, the Gregorian University in Rome. Dozens of prominent figures from the arts and the world of business earned their education there – painter Tsanko Lavrenov, renowned Kapellmeister Georgi Shagunov, leading public figure and émigré Pierre Rouve (Petar Uvaliev). The St. Augustine College was closed down on 1 September, 1948. The monks, who were foreigners, were expelled from the country, and the Bulgarians were sent to the concentration camp at Belene.




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

Svoboda Bachvarova

We mark 100 years since the birth of author and screenwriter Svoboda Bachvarova

The truth is a blessing for those who are ready to go to the end. These words belong to author and screenwriter Svoboda Bachvarova, whose 100th birthday is celebrated on January 11. According to her, cynicism is the biggest blow to humanity. Fired..

published on 1/11/25 12:13 PM
Anna Mutavska

Bulgaria, "Dali's Moustache" and Picasso

The connection between Bulgaria, "Dali's Moustache" and Picasso is a topic that could remain widely discussed in the next few years, and perhaps even decades. The reason for this is not related to new technologies and artificial intelligence, nor to..

published on 1/11/25 10:05 AM
Stefan Komandarev

Stefan Komandarev's new film ranks among the best co-productions

The latest project by director Stefan Komandarev, "The Block Universe", is one of the 35 selected projects at the most important global forum for film co-productions, the Berlinale Co-Production Market. Every year there are hundreds of candidates,..

published on 1/10/25 10:59 AM