On September 22, 1908, Prince Ferdinand declared Bulgaria’s independence from the Ottoman Empire in the town of Veliko Tarnovo. This happened 30 years after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Many prominent Bulgarians who were dedicated to the freedom of their country walked the road to this emblematic event at the cost of their life and health.

Recently, director Dr. Iskren Krasimirov, university lecturer and founder of the Unforgettable Bulgaria project, created a film-theater show about the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Rule and the heroes of the Bulgarian national revival-Paisius of Hilendar, Sophronius of Vratsa, Vasil Levski, Rayna Knyaginya, Georgi Benkovski, Zahari Stoyanov, Ivan Vazov, Hristo Botev, etc.

My latest project is a unique show, because I am the only actor in it. However, this is not a monodrama, because it contains fragments of movies as well. Although I am alone on the stage, I am together with the entire heavenly detachment of Bulgarian national heroes. The premiere of the show was held in the German city of Dusseldorf on the Unification Day- September 6. It was very exciting like the one in Cologne on the following day where the second show of the first German tour was held. Over 150 people gathered in a very narrow hall. Dozens of children also attended the event. My films, lessons and shows and all my efforts are directed to the children.

Today, on this big holiday (the Independence Day), the show will be held in the German city of Bremen. Later, the educational show will tour Bulgarian schools, community centers and kindergartens, Dr. Iskren Krasimirov says and adds:

We should not be proud to be Bulgarians on such big holidays only. I am proud of this fact every single day. I try to tell this to the Bulgarian children as well, because patriotism should not be demonstrated on official holidays only such as March 3 (the Liberation Day), or June 2 (the Day of Bulgaria’s revolutionary Hristo Botev who lost his life on Okolchitsa Peak), or the day when Bulgaria’s Apostle of Freedom Vasil Levski was hung. We must do that every day-to read the legacy of the Bulgarian heroes Levski and Botev and try to follow them in our lives-this is the main purpose of my team from The Unforgettable Bulgaria project. The show will visit Bremen, the children from the Bulgarian school, their parents and the entire Bulgarian community for the third time. Then, I will start the traditional tours across the Bulgarian schools and later, the show will visit foreign countries again.

Dr. Krasimirov has been holding history lectures in Bulgarian schools for years:

I have noticed a positive change in the youngest pupils-from the 1^st to the 4^th grade. I visit these children most often. They are very excited and happy with my lessons and know a lot about Bulgaria’s history. They know many songs and poems as well. It is more difficult to work with grown up children, which is normal. Values are different now and other things are topical nowadays. I am trying to attract their interest in traditional Bulgarian values such as the love for the family, the neighbor, the motherland and the national heroes. This is a very difficult task in our dynamic times, but in my view, things are happening little by little. For instance, 80% of all 40,000 followers of our internet page the Unforgettable Bulgaria are children aged 18 or under, which makes me very happy. This is the most objective assessment of my tireless work.

What inspires Iskren to continue working as an enlightener?

The children who study in Bulgarian schools and abroad, as well as school principals, teachers and parents are the ones who motivate me the most. Instead of having a break on Saturday or Sunday, these people dedicate their spare time to the Bulgarian school. In Cologne for instance, all parents attended the show and offered their help and assistance. These are the contemporary apostles and enlighteners. We should also bow to the teachers in Bulgaria, especially in the villages where I am a regular visitor. A large part of the population there is of Roma origin, and we should work harder in such environment, although it is difficult. This was the dream of Bulgaria’s Apostle of Freedom Vasil Levski-all races, religions and ethnic groups to live in peace and understanding in Bulgaria.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov