The world marked 150^th birth anniversary of Petar Danov – a great Bulgarian who inspired thousands across the world. He was born in the village of Hadarcha, Nikolaevka today, near Varna, in the family of a priest. After graduating theology and medicine with the Boston University he returned to Bulgaria and published his first book: Science and Education. Along with his proselytes he established a Society for Raising of the Bulgarian People’s Religious Spirit, known today as the Universal White Brotherhood Society:

“In the period up to 1914 the Teacher had lectures everywhere across the Bulgarian cities and towns,” says Mrs. Galya Gerasimova, a manager of the White Brotherhood publishing house. “His first public talk, named Here is The Man started the Power and Life Sunday circle. In the course of the next 30 years he used to speak each Sunday. There are over 1,600 Sunday disquisitions written down, telling about love, faith, hope, wisdom and truth – the 5 main virtues. These are the pillars of his teaching. The lectures of Petar Danov are applicable to each and every moment of our daily life – from common household issues to our psychological and physical state. His teaching includes the attitude towards the world, philosophy – that makes it so universal: there is a piece for everyone…”

The heritage of the Teacher can be now found in over 5,000 lectures. Besides talks on life, Petar Danov created more than 150 musical pieces that touch the deepest layers of human soul with their fine vibrations. The paneurythmy dance, harmonizing the soul and the body with the world around, was his discovery. That is why all the jubilee events reminded via lectures, concerts and others the multilateral activities of the Teacher: his spiritual practice for personal development, his philosophy, which attracted the attention of people from different worlds and cultures. The photo exhibition of documentaries, presenting the history of the Teacher’s Garden in the heart of Sofia’s Izgrev neighborhood is a part of the jubilee program:

“The teacher established this neighborhood,” Galya Gerasimova points out. “It is unique in its nature. As of 1921, he used to take his students out to this spot. 5 – 6 years later sheds started to pop up there, around the salon, where he used to speak. The place was a garden with a vineyard and an orchard, where he loved to rest. The huge love in its maintenance can be felt via each flower. All kinds of people go there: students, who pray for successful test results, people in love, ill people, looking for cure… Everyone feels purified, thankful and full of joy after a stay there. There is no passer-by who hasn’t felt something special and strange at this spot.”

When Danov passed away, his body was buried in that garden. In the words of Galya Gerasimova, it is like a temple, where one can feel the presence of the Teacher.

“I do think this is a magical place,” says Sofia Zlateva who loves to go to the garden. “I feel lightness and inspiration there, I am purified and the divine in me awakes. One can hear true silence in that garden, the rhythm of the heart, feeling the beauty of the soul at the same time. This is all due to the energy of the Teacher, which is living, pure and perfect.”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev
Photos: archive