Figures of Plovdiv

Figures of Plovdiv

Petko R. Slaveykov (1827 - 1895)

Petko R. Slaveykov (1827 - 1895)

1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM

Petko Rachev Slaveykov was born on November 17, 1827, in the town of Turnovo. Writer and journalist, public and political figure; Member of Bulgarian Literary Society (later the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences). He presided the Second National Assembly. Minister of Education and Minister of Internal Affairs (1880).

In 1881 he stood against the Authorities Regime, set by Knjaz Alexander I Batemberg, because of which he was expelled from the Principality of Bulgaria together with other Liberal Party leaders. He emigrated with his family to the capital of East Roumelia - Plovdiv, where Pencho Slaveykov studied in the Plovdiv High School while his father was a teacher there. They lived in Plovdiv until 1884, when P. R. Slaveykov moved back to Sofia again.

While living in Plovdiv, P. R. Slaveykov continued his fight against the conservative block of the Knjaz. For two years (1881-83) he was teaching in Plovdiv. Together with Petko Karavelov, he started publishing the Independence newspaper (1881-82), which was the successor of the Sofia newspaper called Independence, a secret publication of the Liberal Party. P. R. Slaveykov went on the fight for restoration of the Turnovo Constitution. He was also the editor of the comic newspaper called Koukourigou (in English Cock-a-doodle-doo), 1882-83.

Slaveykovs presence in Plovdiv could be traced in the Slaveykovs house, the Slaveykovs school and the Slaveykovs cafe (the latter is situated on the small Vuzrazhdane Square in the southeast foot of the Dzhambaz Tepe hill, almost opposite the Marazliyata school), where Slaveykov used to respectively live, work, and take his rest. For two years he was coming each morning to that cafe, a few houses from where he lived to have some coffee and some chat. The old Revival-period house where he spent those two years, today hosts the Plovdiv Teachers House and is still a place where issues like education, knowledge and culture are discussed.

Tsanko Lavrenov  (1896-1978)
Tsanko Lavrenov (1896-1978)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Tsanko Lavrenov (1896-1978) - an original Bulgarian artist, who drew experience from the national traditions of old Bulgarian art and from folklore. A highly creative artist, he poeticised...
Ruslan Raichev (05.05.1919-08.01.2006)
Maestro Raychev worked with Europe's key symphony orchestras including La Scala in Milan, Paris' National Opera and Lond...
Ivan St. Geshov (Plovdiv, 20.02.1849 - 11.03.1924)
Political figure, diplomat, cousin of the eminent public figure, Ivan...
Kiril Naydenov (1945 - 2004)
Kiril Naydenov (1945 - 2004)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Kiril Naidenov was born on 23.05.1945 in the village of Slaviani.
Yoakim Gruev (9.09.1828 - 01.08.1912)
Born in Koprivshtitsa, he studied in Plovdiv Greek School. Later he taught in the Class School of his native town of Koprivshtitsa, succeeding his teacher, Nayden Gerov on that position (1848-56)...
Dimiter Matevski (1835 - 1882)
Dimiter Matevski (1835 - 1882)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
He participated in the national liberation movement. Persecuted by the Turks, he moved into Plovdiv. About the year 1868, he became teacher at the St.Trinity school. He was an active participant in...
Hristo Stoichkov (born 1966)
Hristo Stoichkov (born 1966)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
The Bulgarian football star Hristo Stoichkov officially finished his football-playing career on December 15th, and from January 1st 2004 becomes the Barcelona coach. He will be training the team pl...
Stefka Kostadinova (born 25.03.1965)
Stefka Kostadinova is a famous BG athlete. She was born on March 25th, 1965 in Plovdiv. She has gradiated from the Plovdiv School of Sports, initially starting a career of gymnastics and swimm...
Konstantin Stoilov (1853-1901)
Konstantin Stoilov (1853-1901)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Dr. Stoilov was born on September 23rd, 1853, in Plovdiv, in the well-to-do patriotic family of Stoil Zakharliata. His mother comes fro the emi...
Gavril Krustevich (1817 - 1898)
Gavril Krustevich (1817 - 1898)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Gavril Krustevich (real name: Gandyu Krustev Baev) - born in the town of Kotel in 1817. Public figure and statesman; man of letters; Honorary member of Bulgarian Literary Society (later the Bulgari...