Alfatar keeps traces of its centuries-old past

published on 3/21/23 2:29 PM

Photo: BTA archive

А very old settlement in Northeastern Bulgaria,‎‏ ‏Alfatar is mentioned in the ‎historical chronicles from the end of the 16th century with the names Alfatar, ‎Akhlatar and even Iflatar. Part of its cultural and historical heritage is preserved ‎to this day, and monuments from different eras attract the attention of both ‎researchers and curious tourists.‎

Near today's town of Alfatar (located 20 km south of Silistra) there are four Roman-Byzantine and two ‎medieval Bulgarian fortresses. Near the village of Tsar Asen, the fifth largest ‎fortress was built during the First Bulgarian Kingdom (681 – 1018), we learn ‎from the conversation of Nezabravka Kirova - BNR correspondent in Silistra, ‎with Prof. Georgi Atanasov, PhD in history. According to him, the fortress ‎near the village of Tsar Asen stretched over 45 acres and had urban ‎infrastructure, with 4 churches and a citadel. ‎

‎"A remarkable monument with a Glagolitic inscription of Manasius Inok was ‎discovered there. Not to mention the numerous necropolises, the settlements ‎from the Roman and mediaeval era. But what visitors can see is the Thracian-‎Roman rock sanctuary next to the village of Kutlovitsa. Two dry rivers ‎Kanagjol and Malak Kanagjol or Taban pass through the municipality of ‎Alfatar. It is there, close to exceptional natural phenomena, that the sanctuary ‎above the village of Kutlovitsa is located. It marks the beginning of a large ‎Thracian-Roman rock Kulut center dedicated to the deity Zalmoxis." ‎

There are about 50 rock monasteries along the river Kanagjol, dating ‎from the late 9th and the early 10th century. They were abandoned in the ‎‎11th century, we learn from Prof. Atanasov, who adds:‎

‎"Not far from Alfatar, the two rock monasteries in the Dry River area are fully ‎accessible and to some extent socialized with signposts. One of the churches is ‎very large and unfinished, because apparently during the Pecheneg invasions, ‎the monks, as well as the inhabitants of the neighboring fortress, left this area. ‎Visitors can see an original, authentic interior and exterior as it was in the 10th ‎century. They can also see dozens of drawings, signs and graffiti from this era. ‎There were large groups of rock monasteries near the village of Tsar Asen with ‎a characteristic monastic organization.”‎

At the beginning of the 16th century, Alfatar was registered as the largest ‎purely Christian settlement in the area. Its population reached 600 families - ‎or nearly 8,000 people - more than some cities at the time. But part of the ‎population that founded today's Alfatar left the region during the Russo-‎Turkish war and now these old Alfatars live in Ukraine, we learn from Prof. ‎Atanasov.

Nowadays, the emblem of Alfatar is the Holy Trinity Church in ‎the town.‎

‎"It is remarkable! Because it was built by the leading architecture-building ‎school of Dryanovo. Master craftsman was Genyo Belchev, Kolyo Ficheto's ‎teacher, with whom they built the Dryanovo Monastery. This is one of the first ‎tall churches in Dobruja , in Northeastern Bulgaria. It was completed in 1846 ‎and consecrated."‎

The troubled times of the Crimean War and the raging plague ‎made Alfatar residents strengthen the village both spiritually and physically. ‎Traces of this have survived to this day.‎

‎"At the four corners of Alfatar they placed large stone crosses to ward off the ‎evil forces of disease. And the village is surrounded by a thorn rampart and a ‎moat in front of it, so that the plague could not enter Alfatar. And now these ‎crosses are maintained, visitors can see parts of them.”‎

Some sources say the name Alfatar means the Golden Gate or Gate from ‎Dobruja to the interior of the Ottoman Empire. Prof. Atanasov believes that the ‎last version sounds the most likely since because of the battles between the ‎Ottoman garrisons and Vlad the Impaler, the inhabitants of the villages on the ‎banks of the Danube - Vetren, Srebarna and Popina moved to the southern ‎part of the region, namely in today's Alfatar. ‎

See also:

Compiled by Veneta Nikolova (based on an interview of Nezabravka Kirova, BNR correspondent in Silistra)

Editing by Elena Karkalanova

English version Rositsa Petkova

Photos: Nezabravka Kirova, BTA (archive)

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Share

Alfatar keeps traces of its centuries-old past

More from category

"Ten Great Friends of Bulgaria" tells about foreigners who left their mark on Bulgarian history

Historian Matthew Sears talks about the influence of Thracian heritage on ancient Athens

Codes of Identity: Exhibition presents Bulgaria's ancient families and the 130-year life of Yoncho Pelovsky

St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral celebrates its feast day

Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria pay homage to Saint Catherine