For the first time, the manifesto of the Bulgarian national revival and enlightenment, Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya (Slav-Bulgarian History), written by Saint Paisius of Hilendar, has been published in Ukrainian. The translation, illustrations, commentary and foreword are by Olena Hrytsiuk — an architect, artist and refugee from the war in Ukraine who found a temporary home in Bulgaria.

The edition is by the Crown and Cross Foundation. The book is meant to reach Ukrainian refugees, Bessarabian Bulgarians, historians, philologists and friends of Bulgarian-Ukrainian rapprochement.

“Paisius of Hilendar was my key to understanding Bulgaria”, Olena Hrytsiuk told journalist Irina Nedeva from the BNR’s Horizon channel. ''I saw many parallels between Bulgaria’s centuries-old history and Ukraine’s current situation”, the translator said.

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photo: private archive