152 years after Bulgaria lost its beloved son and advocate for a free, independent and tolerant state – Vasil Levski, his personality continues to excite and inspire Bulgarians from all generations. Scholars continue to study the work of the Apostle of Freedom, to examine his personal belongings, and to fill in the ''blank space'' of his portrait. Bulgarian students, both at home and abroad, listen with excitement to the stories of the elusive Deacon, who always manages to escape from the Ottoman zapties (gendarmes), touring Bulgaria to awaken the longing for revolution and freedom after nearly five centuries of Ottoman rule.

• Vasil Levski Revisited

A digital font based on Levski's handwriting brings us closer to his personality

The handwriting of Vasil Levski, along with those of two other champions of national liberation – poet and revolutionary Hristo Botev, and the founder of the organized national-revolution movement Georgi Stoykov Rakovski, reaches the younger generations in digital format through the project ''The Apostles of Liberation'' that started in 2021, we learn from Elka Rouskov, Honorary Consul of Bulgaria in Washington:

"The aim is to revive and preserve the memory of the Apostle of Freedom, making his handwriting accessible for widespread use in the digital age. Our historical heritage is preserved through this initiative. The initiative provides the opportunity for everyone to use the fonts of these Bulgarian revolutionaries in their everyday communication", Elka Rouskov explained in an interview with Radio Bulgaria. She herself helped with contacts at the beginning of the project and now contributes to the spread of this font among Bulgarian schools in the USA.

The project is an initiative of the National Card and Payment Scheme (NCPS).  National Card and Payment Scheme Director Stoilka Arsova has more:

"In 2020, we met with the author of the first font based on Vasil Levski's handwriting. His name is Stefan Peev. He had been working on the project since 2014 but was looking for sponsors. I found out that until then, there was no similar project in our country, unlike abroad. When we digitize a handwriting, we dedicate ourselves to the person and their life. We meet with people who have researched them and learn first-hand information. We will definitely continue this project next year, when we will digitize the handwriting of Rayna Knyaginya (the Bulgarian woman who sew the flag of the April Uprising of 1876- editorial note).

On the eve of the anniversary of the death of the Apostle of Freedom, Stoilka Arsova visited Bulgarian schools in New York and Las Vegas, where she held open lessons dedicated to the font based on Vasil Levski's handwriting. It is being distributed free of charge and has been extremely well accepted in schools, design studios and publishing houses. For now, it is available on the website bcard.bg, but by the middle of the year, a platform will be created where the other digitized handwritings will be added.

• Bulgarians around the world bow down to the Apostle of Freedom

  
  

Tribute to the Apostle of Freedom in Chicago

Every year the Bulgarian community in Chicago honors the memory of Vasil Levski with various initiatives. Traditionally, Bulgarica Center organizes a lecture dedicated to his life and work. It is delivered by historian Kamelia Popova, who is also the founder of the historical circle ''Patriotism'' at the cultural center.

"We created the historical circle with the idea to hold discussions on Bulgarian history. So far, we have discussed both ancient history and the history leading up to the Balkan War and the First World War, –  says Petar Georgiev, a member of the historical circle ''Patriotism''. – After the establishment the historical circle ''Patriotism'', we began to honor the memory of Vasil Levski by screening films dedicated to him, but the idea arose to expand our activities, adding a series of lectures and organizing a memorial service. Later we contacted other organizations, such as the Macedonian Patriotic Organization, who also gave several lectures and screened several films".

20th edition of Olympiad Levski

"The 152nd anniversary of Vasil Levski’s death will also be marked with Olympiad Levski Olympiad 2025 organized by the Magura Cultural Center in Chicago. The event is scheduled for February 22. It will be attended by Bulgarian schools and organizations in the Chicago area, including representatives of the Bulgarian American Police Association (BAPA). It will be hosted by the Little Bulgarian School in Chicago. Nearly 650 Bulgarian children have learned to read and write in Bulgarian since its establishment in 2010.

"We are the only school that has its own building, with a large gymnasium where we can hold such events, explains Jivka Petrova, director of Little Bulgarian School in Chicago. The Olympiad is organized by artist Kina Bagovska, who works voluntarily for the Magura Cultural Center. So far, the event has always included a quiz with questions, along with various games. This year, the task will be to assemble a puzzle depicting Levski’s portrait or one of the quotes attributed to him. In addition, our two Sunday schools will also participate with a folklore program." 

• Artist Galiley Simeonov who breathes life into the memory of Bulgaria’s national heroes