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zoom bulgaria 5

ISSUE 05/FREE
The official magazine of Radio Bulgaria
How about a
Chariot Ride?
IT village
FC Levski turns 100
THE Eastern RhodopeS –
Bulgaria UNKNOWN
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The Eastern Rhodopes 13 Bulgaria unknown
In memoriam: Bulgarian
opera basso
Nicola Ghiuselev 20
28
4
South Stream:
Bulgaria in
unprecedented
situation
5
The future is here
and it is digital
6
Benefits and costs
of Bulgaria’s EU
membership
8
IT village
FC Levski turns 100
Essential oils, herbs and
tradition go into the
10 making of Bulgarian
cosmetics
Publisher: Radio Bulgaria/ website: bnr.bg
email: english@bnr.bg, tel: 00359 2 9336 661
Advertising: radiobulgaria@bnr.bg,
tel: 00359 2 9336 633
Photos: BGNES, BTA, BNR, Infotourism.net, Veneta Nikolova
Painter Gredi Assa –
26 crossing the desert of
beauty
Design/ prepress: Dimitar Petrin
Issue June/ ZOOM Bulgaria magazine
3
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South Stream: Bulgaria in
unprecedented situation by Tania Harizanova
the shareholders of the company which
was put on Washington’s blacklist during
the Ukrainian crisis. Washington has
warned Bulgaria that it would impose
sanctions on all companies entering
into partnership with the Russian firm
in question. The latter could affect the
Bulgarian Energy Holding and any
bank which decides to provide loans to
the subcontractors of the South Stream
pipeline.
Bulgaria found itself in an unprecedented
situation after Brussels and Washington
threatened sanctions at the same time,
because of the construction of the South
Stream gas pipeline across Bulgarian
territory. Moscow described the steps
taken by the Bulgarian government as
“energy blackmail against Russia”.
Media in the West commented that the
pressure exerted on Bulgaria has been
successful, while media in Russia blame
the USA for dealing a blow to the South
Stream project. Events in Bulgaria
underwent a turnabout in just a day and
even people in Bulgaria were in the dark
as to what really happened.
Sofia
Bulgaria’s Premier Plamen Oresharski
ordered the halting of the South
Stream pipeline until the country
negotiates the construction of the
project with Brussels. This took place
after the meeting PM Oresharski had
with three US congressmen who paid
an official visit to Sofia. Bulgaria’s
Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev
said that the South Stream project was
irreversible and was important for both
Europe and Bulgaria and the current
controversies only concern the way
it should be carried out. In his view,
Washington is opposed only to the
selected subcontractor.
4
ZOOM Bulgaria magazine/Issue June
Brussels
“The Commission will also ensure that
all energy infrastructure and projects
in the European Union such as South
Stream comply 100 per cent with
European rules on energy competition
public procurements and so on. We have
just launched an infringement procedure
against Bulgaria which shows that we
mean business”, said EC President Jose
Manuel Barroso at the G-7 summit. To
prove its intentions Brussels froze the
EU funds granted Bulgaria under several
programmes. EU Commissioner for
Consumer Protection Neven Mimica
who paid an official visit to Bulgaria
stated in Brussels support that the South
Stream project diversifies only the gas
routes, not the actual gas source, which
is not an EU priority.
Washington
US Senator John McCain plainly
said after his meeting with Premier
Oresharski that the USA would like
to see Russia playing a lesser role in
the construction of the South Stream
gas pipeline. US Ambassador to
Sofia Marcie Ries said her country
was deeply worried about Bulgaria’s
decision to choose the Russian company
Stroytransgas to build the pipeline on
Bulgarian territory. Gennady Timchenko,
who is close to Vladimir Putin, is one of
Moscow
Moscow contends that it will build
the pipeline, despite the sanctions
coming from Brussels. Even if the
European banks refuse to provide
financing, Russian energy giant
Gasprom will itself fund the project
estimated at over EUR 16 billion.
Moscow is blaming the EC of double
standards, because the requirements
set down for the South Stream did not
apply to similar pipelines connecting
North Africa with Spain and Italy,
for example. A Russian MP even
described Bulgaria’s decision to
suspend the construction of the South
Stream pipeline as “energy blackmail
against Russia” and accused Europe
of “simulating activity and trying
to solve the problem, while actually
trying to force Moscow’s hand to
transit gas across Ukraine only”.
Pressure exerted from Brussels
Why Bulgaria? Because this country
is closest to the Black Sea where the
water section of the pipeline connects to
European territory. Brussels decided to
grant some EUR 15 billion to Bulgaria
over the next programming period
2014-2020 and along with the possible
sanctions Bulgaria, could also lose a lot
of money from these EU funds. That
is why it is worth respecting European
energy legislation.
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The future is here and it is digital
by Tania Harizanova
that there will be some 900 thousand
vacant well-paid job positions in the
IT sector by 2020 which will require
highly-qualified staff. In fact, the digital
economy demands the possession of
some digital skills, in order to make a
career. According to latest surveys, over
40% of the Bulgarian population lacks
basic digital skills. In 2020, all people
must be able to use the social networks,
use professional software and teach
interactive lessons, whether they are
doctors, teachers or journalists. This is
the purpose of our coalition”, Gergana
Passy further adds.
Can Bulgaria regain its former glory of
a “technological nation”?
The world is a giant operating system
that just needs to be debugged, says
Bill Gates. One of the problems the
European operating system faces is the
fact that the Old Continent will need
some 900 thousand IT experts by 2020.
According to the European Commission
data, the people who work in the IT and
the telecommunications field account
for a mere 3.4% of the total workforce
within the European Union. Interest in
making a career in the IT sphere has
been dwindling of late and the number
of students with a degree in Computer
Science has been going down constantly
since 2006. The shortage of staff in
the IT sector is huge across Europe,
Bulgaria making no exception. What is
the solution to this problem?
The European Commission has
committed itself to this issue and
the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs
Initiative aims at addressing the issue
of the shortage of highly-qualified IT
experts in Europe. The National Digital
Coalition in Bulgaria, bearing the key
name DNA, also joined the broader
European initiative. “In our view, it is
really a matter of DNA and how we
manage to implement this code on all
levels in Bulgaria, so our economy and
people may be more competitive”, says
the founder of the coalition Gergana
Passy. However, the truth is that our
digital world is riddled with many
uncertainties and there are fears that
current life and business models are
subject to change. However, the future
is already here and it is digital.
“It is very important to me, because
it places Bulgaria among the most
progressive nations”, says Gergana
Passy in an interview for Radio
Bulgaria. “Of course, agriculture and
tourism are also very important to this
country. However, education is top
priority. It is important to see what each
one of us can do. Europe is also worried
about the shortage of personnel in the
IT sphere. There are nearly six million
unemployed across the continent as at
the same time the institutions estimate
“I strongly believe in this”, says
Gergana Passy. “I am leaning on
Finland’s experience, because we
should not think we have to be a rich
country, in order to work miracles.
Finland was once one of the poorest
countries with the worst education and
unfavourable economic environment,
due to its severe climate. Agriculture
was also in a very bad way. Today
Finland is one of the most advanced
countries worldwide, because it
managed to build its economy on
innovations and education. This is
what matters most - can we think
innovatively and can we encourage
our children to become entrepreneurs,
give them a proper education and
keep them living in the country later.
Bulgaria has unique entrepreneurs
aged between fifteen and twenty five at
present. There are many experienced
businessmen who are ready to take
the plunge. However, we were raised
on fear of failure. The truth is that
all successful people have had many
failures in the past”, concludes
Gergana Passy.
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Benefits and
costs of
Bulgaria’s EU
membership
by Iliana Raicheva
Bulgaria has been a full member of the
EU for seven years now. In order to fully
answer the question what is the cost of
the country’s EU membership, we need
to ask ourselves for what we expected
from the European Union and did we get
what we wanted?
During the whole process of accession
to the EU - from the application phase,
through the negotiations, all the way
to the actual admission to the Union,
people in Bulgaria were claiming that the
country is joining the “right” family and
opposing the totalitarian regime.
“I think that Bulgaria is still quite
cautious in its EU membership”, said
Professor Ingrid Shikova who lectures
EU Policies at the Saint Kliment
Ohridski University in Sofia. “I would
also say that we are even shy and
bashful. The fruit we harvest from our
EU membership is not of the sweetest
and this is perhaps due to the economic
and financial crisis which loomed
in Europe at the beginning of our
membership. It is very important that
we received a “chair and a microphone”
with our EU membership. We can not
comprehend that and usually put the
European funds and the opportunity
to travel freely as our top advantages.
However, we can voice our opinion
through the “chair and the microphone”
and defend our national interests, which
is of great importance for each full
member of the EU.”
What are the consequences of the
country’s membership? Lyubov
Panayotova who is Director of the
6
European Institute in Sofia tries
to find an answer to this question.
“Unfortunately, most people say that they
do not live well since Bulgaria joined
the EU. Due to the increasing populism
and nationalism in Europe, Bulgaria has
been subject to criticism on issues such
as the labour market, ethnic minorities
or the free movement in the EU which
is one of the fundamental values of the
Union. Perhaps, we are also to be blamed
for that, because we failed to take full
advantage of our European dream. I hope
that despite all difficulties, the young
generation which has already felt the
benefits of the Erasmus programmes and
the opportunities to travel freely, will
fulfill this dream”.
“Bulgaria continues to behave as a
country which is still negotiating with
the EU for its accession”, contends
political expert Vladimir Shopov. “Our
biggest achievement over the past seven
years is linked with the ability to acquire
the necessary administrative techniques
during the harmonization of the national
legislation with the European law.
However, we have not learnt to analyze
European policies, in order to make
adequate decisions regarding Bulgaria’s
participation in these policies. We failed
to change our attitude on issues like
corruption and organized crime. I think
that we also failed to meet some of the
expectations of other European countries
towards us such as taking responsibility
in the region of South East Europe,
the Balkans and the Black Sea Region.
Europe was expecting Bulgaria and
Romania would play a more active role
in the processes in these regions.”
“With regard to the current state of
the EU, I can say that it is in a very
difficult position”, says Professor Ingrid
Shikova. “We ask ourselves whether
the EU possesses the necessary means
to preserve its values and protect its
economy from decay. Can we protect
the world from terrorism and wars?
We thought that war was far from our
continent, but recent years proved it is
not. We should not forget what happened
in former Yugoslavia years ago and
see what is happening in Ukraine now.
All these events took place and are still
unfolding in the European continent.
That is why Europe must overcome
the differences and the disputes over
certain issues. Real life brings different
challenges and we must have a strong
motivation to form a political alliance.
Otherwise, we can not move forward”,
concludes Professor Shikova.
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How about a Chariot Ride?
Sofia now has Europe’s most advanced electric bus
Have you already seen the naturefriendly e-bus travelling along Sofia’s
line 11? It is an intelligent, unassuming
vehicle that covers 23 km with an
average 8-minute charge of its Ultra
Capacitor. Inside, it is noiseless and
with free WiFi internet access. To cut a
long story short, the vehicle looks like
the ultimate chariot of the 21st century.
in mid-May, Europe’s most advanced
electric bus landed in Sofia and opened
its doors to its first passengers. Last
year, the European Environment Agency
stated that Bulgaria has the highest
concentration in its air of sulphur dioxide
and carbon monoxide in Europe. The
distressing figures have prompted Sofia
Municipality to begin major financing of
nature-friendly vehicles.
the new bus technology can help city
planners reduce operating costs and
decrease emissions by unprecedented
levels.
Zwika Zimmerman, Chairman of the
Board of Chariot Motors, explained:
“I have no doubt that these next
generation electric buses are the future
of urban public transport. This is the
first electric bus on the streets of Europe
that does not require traditional battery
charging and can cover its whole route
on a single charge requiring just a few
minutes. However I’m confident that it
won’t be the last.”
The cutting-edge ultra-capacitor
technology of the Chariot e-bus
enables the vehicle to capture energy
from braking and use it to propel
the bus forward to reach previously
unachievable ranges. The ultra-capacitor
technology has been tested in Shanghai
for more than seven years, clocking up
more than 8 million kilometres, but has
never before been launched in Europe.
The new bus will run across a 23-km
round-trip route. Its average daily
energy consumption has already
been test-proven in Sofia to be about
0.95kWh/km. Translated into energy
cost per kilometre, this produces a
ratio of up to 10 times in favour of the
Chariot E-bus. In the meantime, Sofia
is looking forward to a further breath
of fresh air from more nature-friendly
e-buses.
www.chariot-electricbus.com
info@chariot-motors.com
“During the past year, Sofia
Municipality has invested close to 200
million euro in various projects for the
purchase of environmentally-friendly
vehicles”, Mayor Yordanka Fandakova
says.
These huge investments are provided
under the Environment and Regional
Development Programmes of the
European Union. They are aimed
to give a major facelift to the city’s
public transport philosophy. And the
Chariot e-bus looks like the perfect
solution: it does not produce any
direct CO2 emissions. Instead, only
indirect emissions are created from the
generation of electricity, but this is less
than one third of that of a normal diesel
bus.
The vehicle is the result of the Chariot
Motors’ efforts that brought together the
world’s top bus technologies along with
cutting-edge ultra-capacitor technology
powering the bus. Chariot Motors says
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IT village
by Roumyana Tsvetkova
8
W
e have somehow got used to the
fact that many young Bulgarians
say their future passes through Terminal
2 of Sofia Airport. That is why the news
that some of them want to stay in the
country and even settle in a village is quite
surprising. The unusual idea of 28-yearold Ivan Kukov for the restoration of
depopulated villages by bringing IT
experts to live there wowed media and
social networks. The idea won a Facebook
contest named “Buy a village, create a
better place to live in Bulgaria”.
The young IT expert claims that all this
is doable. We are all aware of the fact
that villages are depopulated mostly
because there are no jobs for young
people there. “Nowadays it is realistic
for freelancers and people with remote
jobs to go and settle in a village. No
matter the place, the Internet connection
is essential,” Ivan says. Nobody
can dispute the advantages of the
countryside: it is more peaceful, the air
is clean, the food is tasty and people are
smiling. More and more enthusiasts feel
attracted to Ivan’s idea. The IT Village
community in Facebook now has nearly
3,400 fans.
“Most of them can work remotely,” Ivan
says. “There are journalists, translators
and all kinds of occupations that are not
necessarily linked to a specific place – an
office downtown, 9 am – 6 pm. Besides
many people from abroad have got in
touch with us, ready to return here and to
start their countryside life. And there are
not just young people. There are doctors,
teachers, even a lady from England who
plans to return here in the summer.”
“A relatively good infrastructure is
essential, since travelling to towns and
cities should be possible. Not too high
in the mountain where snow could
block you for three days. We are also
talking about stable electricity and water
supply network systems. We are aware
that only bigger villages have sewerage
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systems, but local treatment plants are
a solution that is getting cheaper every
day…”
Ivan Kukov and his friends plan to visit
the selected spots. No wonder they have
already been inundated with offers from
different people who try to bring back
to life villages across Bulgaria. These
are settlements close to the capital
city, in the area of the mystic Rhodope
Mountain, as well as in Bulgaria’s
Northwest, the poorest region of the
EU. Ivan says that the newcomers could
combine their everyday PC occupation
with some typical rural activity, such as
beekeeping or gardening. At the same
time their presence there could provide
work for people with other occupations,
such as teachers and doctors. Locals
could profit, too – a grandpa and a
grandma could look after a small
vegetable garden for 2-3 families and
receive a payment, exceeding their
pensions,” Ivan says. The young man
has also found a solution with regard
to the entertainment side, which his
coevals have now grown accustomed to:
“If there are enough people in a village
and they don’t have a cinema, one can
be made out of a PC and a projector.
Technologies nowadays make it all
so easy. Different cultural or theatre
performances can be arranged too, with
expenses paid to amateur formations,
for instance.”
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Essential oils, herbs and tradition go into the
making of Bulgarian cosmetics by Joan Kolev
Interview with Milena Georgieva, Rosa Impex
Marketing Manager
The Bulgarian cosmetics industry is
not finding it easy to cope with the
competition of multinational companies
on the international market. But
Bulgarian products have found niches
on the world markets thanks to their
competitive prices and quality and the
natural components – rose, lavender,
marigold, grapes, honey and herbs.
Founded in 1991, Rosa Impex is the first
private cosmetics company in Bulgaria.
Today it is the leading manufacturer of
hair and skin care cosmetics and exports
its products to four continents.
How is a Bulgarian company coping on
the world market and what is keeping
it competitive? We talked to Milena
Georgieva, Marketing Manager at the
company.
The Rosa Impex products are used
in 33 countries around the world.
80 percent of its products are sold
on the international market, a rare
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achievement for a Bulgarian
company. What are the
advantages you have over
the competition?
We have always prided
ourselves on being a
Bulgarian company and
have been making every
effort to do the country
honour with our products.
The company uses cuttingedge equipment, facilities
and technology. We use
raw materials of the
highest quality and have
certification to ISO 9001:
2008, ISO 22716 GMP standards
in cosmetics, as well as ISO 14001
for environmental protection. It is
really a wonderful thing that we have
constructed a modern enterprise with
a streamlined quality system but what
gives Rosa Impex its power are not
the buildings or the equipment but
the people who work here. We all
know how difficult it is to put a team
together, a team of knowledgeable and
capable professionals, of people with
a creative spirit. A great deal of love,
science and care for our customers has
been invested in each and every one
of our products. And it is this same
approach we apply to our clients: each
client matters, no matter big or small.
The secret of high-quality European
cosmetics is frequently to be found
in the use of Bulgarian attar of roses.
What are the raw materials and
innovations you use for your products?
Our products can well be called a biopanoply of the best of Bulgarian oils,
herbs and traditions. When we create
our products we always endeavour
to invest in them the spirit of our
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wonderful country, because Bulgaria
has innumerable skin elixirs to offer. Of
course, we use products extracted from
roses, but the country also has an array
of precious herbs that remain, as yet,
unknown to the broad public; however
we use them because we appreciate
their invaluable properties. We only use
natural components as well as the latest
innovations in world skincare practice.
How many products does the company
have now and how many when it
was starting out? Which would you
say have been your most successful
products?
We currently turn out more than 400
hair, face and body care products. Every
market has its favourite products and
this is dictated by the modern trends in
the country, by the climate, the skin and
hair type etc. For 23 years we have been
creating new and high-quality products.
We put a new series on the market every
3-4 months, we expand or refresh the
existing ones and always do our best
to keep abreast of the latest tendencies
and to offer our clients only the best. It
is difficult to say which have been our
most successful products, though our
hair colouring cream vip’s PRESTIGE
is an undisputed market leader. In recent
years we have been very successful
with our REGAL cosmetics, which are
currently on their way to conquering the
Asian markets.
What is your company philosophy
based on?
Making the best of the best possible.
Rosa Impex has received numerous
awards for its products but also for
its corporate and social awareness,
its charity and patronage. Which are
the projects you are most proud of,
projects whose results have given the
greatest satisfaction?
One of our most highly valued projects
is the national charity campaign For One
More Bulgarian Baby which assisted
37 couples with reproductive problems
undergo in vitro procedures and now the
Rosa Impex family has 8 children – the
future of the country.
We also assist Bulgarian culture –
the International Chamber Music
Festival and many other cultural and
social events in Plovdiv and around
the country. The Crossroads Stage
International Drama Festival in Plovdiv,
of which Rosa Impex is general
sponsor, will take place for the 18th year
running this autumn.
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The Eastern Rhodopes: 3 in 1 Dutch style
by Maria Dimitrova-Pichot
Five years ago, two Dutch environmental
organizations - ARK and Avalon turned
their attention to the Eastern Rhodopes
in Bulgaria. This is the mountain of
the legendary Thracian priest Orpheus
and is characterized by a unique
biodiversity and pristine nature. The
project of the NGOs was entitled New
Thracian Gold and combines 3 elements
- habitat restoration, eco-tourism and
organic farming into a single integrated
approach. The project ends this year
with significant achievements in the
creation of models for the sustainable
development of the Eastern Rhodopes.
ARK team leader Frank Zanderink told
Radio Bulgaria more: “When in 2009
the New Thracian Gold project started
in the Eastern Rhodopes, there were
only seven certified organic producers.
Today there is a network of 40 certified
farms. A number of guest houses were
built too. The first detailed tourist map
of the Eastern Rhodopes was published
too, together with a guide in Bulgarian
and English, as well as a map for the
TransRhodope eco trail. The successful
reintroduction of large herbivores
previously extinct in the region plays a
major role in reviving essential natural
processes. This has also led to an
increase in the number of tourists in the
region.Снимка
One of the local organic farmers - Petko
Angelov practices biodynamic farming.
It is based on ancient agricultural
practices that rely on the lunar calendar,
the influence of the stars and the sun.
Mr. Angelov grows an ancient variety of
wheat dating back to Thracian times. It
is always sowed on the day of the vernal
equinox and reaped on the day of the
autumnal equinox. We plough and sow
barefoot, Mr. Angelov explains and adds:
”The energy contained in the earth
needs to pass to the farmer and
vice versa. Vital energies must be
exchanged. For the ancient Thracians,
the center of everything was Mother
Earth. Their agriculture was gentle to
the earth and they abided by principles
recommended by a number of institutes
today. We do not practice deep
plowing. In bio-dynamic farming a
strict schedule of the processes is kept.
Different types of farming work is done
according to astronomical and other
natural factors. Over the past few years
we have been trying to restore Thracian
agricultural practices dating back 8,000
years. Last year, we made a test sowing
a field according to modern methods
and one according to the Thracian
practices. We were pleasantly surprised
to see that the application of the
bio-dynamic principles yielded much
better results. This way productivity is
increased without using any herbicides
or fertilizers. We use special minerals
that are very common in our country
such as zeolites. When put into the soil,
they enrich it slowly for a period of up
to 10 years.”
People can get acquainted with some
of these curious agricultural practices
borrowed from the ancient Thracians
during the festival of bread that will
take place in the village of Rabovo in
July. The event has been attracting more
and more attention over the years and
the festival is visited by a number of
Bulgarian, Dutch and German tourists.
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THE Eastern Rhodope Mountain –
Bulgaria UNKNOWN
by Rumiana Tsvetkova
The Eastern Rhodope Mountain is one of the places people fall in love with at first glance and
become hooked on its magnetic power and striking beauty, longing to return there again and
again. For many historians and archeologists this place is a cradle of different civilizations.
If you choose the Eastern Rhodope Mountain for your tourist destination, you will not need
a time machine to take you thousands of years back and tread in the footsteps of the ancient
ancestors or touch their lifestyle and mysterious beliefs.
The oldest settlement in these lands was discovered in the centre of the modern
town of Kardzhali. It dates back to the 6th millennium BC. One of the earliest
paved streets covered with river stones is to be found there. Many impressive
examples of life in the Eastern Rhodope Mountain from antiquity to the present
days can be seen in the Regional Museum of History in Kardzhali. Almost every
foot of this sacred mountain reveals finds connected with the Ancient Thracians
who once lived in these lands.
The ancient Thracians had exceptional knowledge in astronomy. This is proven
by the archeological and astronomical study of the rock sanctuary Harman
Kaya. Two plots with concentric semicircles carved into the rocks were found
there. They were probably used by the Thracians to measure the annual cycle
and for determining the winter and summer equilibrium. Well-preserved
monasteries from the medieval and the Ottoman periods can also be seen in the
Eastern Rhodope Mountains.
14
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–
The religious complex Tatul is another must-see in this
region. One of the hypotheses suggests it is 6,000 years old
older even than the Pyramids in Egypt. The complex consists
of an ancient pagan sanctuary and a medieval fortress.
There is a scientific hypothesis that it was the sanctuary of
Orpheus and is even the place where the mythical singer was
buried.
15
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Perperikon is situated at an altitude of
470 metres near the town of Kardzhali,
Southeastern Bulgaria. Hewn into
the rocks, it is now one of the oldest
monuments. It embodies the history of this
region from several epochs. According
16
to scholars, the famous sanctuary of God
Dionysus was right here and all prophecies
made here came true. This is why many
illustrious people from the past turned to
the priestesses who conducted wine and fire
rituals.
The name of the ancient religious centre
comes from the Old Greek language. The
word Hyperperakion means a huge fire.
It gave the name to the gold coin with a
high gold content, which was minted in
Byzantium in 1082. Historians explain
the connection between the name of the
coin and the rock monument with the local
gold deposits. The gold mines, where the
Thracians and later the Byzantine people
used to extract gold, are 2 km from the
rocky town. Soon after the monetary
reform this sophisticated word was made
shorter. Thus the word Perperikon ultimately
emerged. Nobody knows what this place
was called in the old ages.
The first evidence of life dates back to the
Late Stone Age (the Neolithic age) - the late
6th and early 5th millennium BC. The end of
the Copper-Stone age provides evidence that
this big stone massif was a place of worship.
The first sanctuary was to the Sun-God. It
is situated next to the so-called oval hall,
where the sanctuary of God Dionisius was
later built.
“After wine was spilt onto the altar,
the smoke rose up above the top of the
shrine and even unto the heavens as when
Alexander the Great made a sacrifice upon
the same altar”. This phrase comes from the
book “Chronicles of the Roman Emperors”
written by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus ages
ago. It tells the story of a prophecy made at
the request of Emperor Octavian, the father
of Augustus, who later became Emperor of
Rome. According to the chronicler Octavian
was crossing the outlying parts of his empire
and when he came upon the holy Mount
of God Dionysus. He consulted the oracle
about his son. The prophets told him his son
was to rule the world.”
This written proof has been mentioned by
historians many times. Visitors can learn
about this from the tour guides if they decide
to follow the steep path. The whole trip lasts
1.5 hours. It must be done when the weather
is good - at moderate temperatures and dry
weather.
Each step made in Perperikon reveals
part of its boundless history. One can see
zoom/travel
there well-preserved rooms dating to the
Thracian period. Most remarkable of all are
the three floors of the religious complex,
dedicated to God Dionysus. Well preserved
stone benches and a staircase can be seen
there. The stone throne hewn high up into
the rocks can be seen at the place which
is bathed in sunlight throughout the day.
The sanctuary itself is on the last floor. It
was here that the wine and fire rituals took
place. It is 3 metres high and 2 metres wide.
During the first excavations in the 1980’s
the team led by renowned archeologist
Ivan Balkanski found a stone sarcophagus
weighing almost 2 tonnes. Despite its weight
and size it was immediately lifted by a
helicopter. It still remains a secret what was
inside the sarcophagus and where it was
transported. This will probably remain a
mystery that will never come to light.
Dozens of stone tubs were scattered across
the whole region. These tubs were used for
making wine, which was later used in the
religious rituals.
“In the bottom left-hand corner of this tub
you can see a stone groove, through which
the ritual liquid flowed out”, Milen Filipov
explains. “We call these tubs “sharapans”.
We do not know what the ancient Greeks
called them. However, judging by their
number and size we can tell that great
quantities of wine were produced there. A
huge number of well-preserved clay jars
were found recently. The bigger ones were
used to hold wheat and the small ones wine”, says Milen Filipov.
During the pagan period of the Roman
Empire this sanctuary was bustling with life.
It belonged to the Thracian tribe Bessy, who
were in alliance with the Romans.
In 393-398, the Bessy people were
converted. The sanctuary went out of use
and was considered an obstacle to the
propagation of the new religion. Later the
sanctuary was covered with soil. Thus, 19thcentury researchers were done a great favour
as the soil layer preserved the ritual building
well.
A temple of an early Christian type
discovered recently was built at the end
of the 4th century. Its ceramic altar was
very well preserved. A replica of this
altar can be seen in the local church
grounds. The original alter is kept in the
Regional Museum of History in the town
of Kardzhali. People can see there many
ancient objects from different periods, found
in this region. “Perperikon is an incredible
place with a amount of energy”, says Milen
Filipov.
“Many people talk about the energy of this
place. I feel this energy myself”, says Milen
Filipov. “Of course it can be felt by people
with high sensitivity. Scientists are looking
into the matter, as well. Some say that this
place has a specific cosmic energy. Others
that this is due to the high copper content
in the rocks. This explains why so many
religious ceremonies have taken place there
over the centuries right up to the Ottoman
invasion, when life in Perperikon died
away”, Milen Filipov concluded.
Zlatograd - Where
Bulgaria begins
by Veneta Nikolova
Zlatograd has always been “the gateway to
the wide world”. People here say this is where
Bulgaria begins, and with good reason. A
gentle breeze from the Aegean Sea reaches
this small town on the country’s border with
Greece. Through the ages Zlatograd has
brought different cultures together and they
have all left their imprint on local customs
and lifestyle. Nowadays this beautiful part of
the Rhodope Mountain enthralls travelers
with its white houses with round chimneys
and its Revival style atmosphere.
Zlatograd is where the first post office in
Bulgaria was built. The oldest church in
the Rhodopes, built in 1834, the times of
Ottoman domination rises in the centre of
20
the town’s historical part; the first monastery
school in the entire region is also here, in
Zlatograd. It was here again that at the time
of the National Revival the first European
innovations in technology and agriculture
were applied. In the 19th century the people
of Zlatograd were the first to leave their folk
costumes behind and start wearing elegant
city clothes, following European fashion to the
minutest of details.
In our day Zlatograd is once again a
pioneer – this time of entrepreneurship and
vision. Thanks to the initiative of a local
businessman, at the turn of the 21st century
the town’s old marketplace was born to a
new life. Investing his own resources and
with financing from European funds, the
dilapidated old houses were restored and
traditional craft workshops opened doors
in their basements. That was how the only
private so-called habitat ethnographic
complex in the country came into being. The
town, until then sunk in oblivion suddenly
filled with tourists:
“In 2001 we had but one hotel that could put
up 10 tourists and almost no visitors. Now
we have many hotels and guest houses and
almost 90,000 visitors to the town every year,”
says Alexander Mitoushev, the entrepreneur
who undertook to renovate the complex and
make the town a tourist attraction.
The town was once called Belovidovo, the
name being derived from the dazzling
whiteness of its houses, perched on the rocky
cliffs of the Rhodopes. If you take a stroll in
the streets of its old part you will see it has
lost none of its old-time charm. And the first
thing that visitors notice are the rounded white
chimneys. They invariably top the red tiled
roofs; in winter a silvery strand of smoke rises
up to the sky. Most of the houses here are more
than 200 years old, they are made of stone,
wood and adobe and some are still inhabited.
Others have been turned into small hotels.
Still others have workshops in their basements
where latter-day master craftsmen bring to life
the crafts of old, typical of this part of Bulgaria.
Visitors can take a peek into the woodcarving,
21
zoom/travel
pottery, cutlery or coppersmith workshops.
If you drop by the local goldsmith you will
see how belt-buckles, necklaces, bracelets
are made using ancient technologies. In the
weaving workshop visitors can see how the
typical Rhodope fleecy rugs are made, and try
out the loom; at the saddlemaker’s – how horse
and donkey saddles, horse-collars and bridles
are made. Some of the first sowing-machines
imported in Bulgaria 150 years ago are on
display at the tailor’s where you can buy hand-
22
made shirts, aprons or even entire Rhodope
folk costumes. “We are always on the lookout
for old folk costumes and we learn the trade
from them,” says Marina Teritova, a master
craftsman of braiding.
“The typical Bulgarian braiding is applied
instead of seams in clothing and also serves
as decoration”, Marina Teritova goes on to
say. ”The more braids a folk costume had, the
wealthier its owner. Nowadays it is not easy
to buy whole costumes with braiding, so we
also make braid souvenirs. Like these flowers
or these butterflies here, used as brooches or
head ornaments.”
If you take a walk in the ethnographic
complex, enjoying the view of the magnificent
Rhodope architecture you simply must pay
a visit to the Old café, dating back to 1823.
Since then, right down to our day, it offers
a typical local specialty – coffee on sand. At
the local taverns and restaurants guests can
try delicious and healthy Rhodope dishes.
While accommodation in the town and its
environs is ample. Nonetheless, if you plan a
visit in summer, you would be wise to book
in advance, as in that season it is difficult
to find vacancies. The same is true of the
folklore festivals held regularly at Zlatograd’s
ethnographic complex. At festival time
hundreds of locals, dressed in folk costumes
as well as tourists, cameras in hand, stream
in the town’s narrow streets. Whether it is the
Festival of Wine or of old-time city songs, a
re-enactment of the Butterfly – an ancient
rain ritual of the Balkan peoples – or the
popular traditional barbecue, any celebration
here lifts the spirits and invariably ends in a
chain dance in the town square.
In memoriam: Bulgarian
opera basso Nicola Ghiuselev
T
he world of opera lost one more of its renowned singers. Bulgarian basso Nicola Giuselev passed away
at the age of 77. Wenever think over the transience of human life, while listening to the renditions of
Bulgarian opera stars We seem to have got accustomed to the talent and beautiful voice of Ghiuselev
onstage, to his appearance…
The Bulgarian fans of the late opera singer were aware of the dual nature of his artistry. He graduated the Academy
of Arts as a painter, simultaneously with his opera singing lessons. Ghiuselev’s debut on stage was in 1961 at the
Sofia Opera House as Timur in Puccini’s Turandot. That was the start of an illustrious career that took him to the
most famous opera theatres across the globe. Ghiuselev received a string of awards, among them the Golden Verdi
prize. Critics term him a great singer, a voice that paints pictures, a performer of the highest order.
Rest in Peace, Maestro!
23
zoom/culture
Cell phone application reveals
Sofia’s historical mysteries
by Veneta Nikolova
S
ofia’s historical secrets are now
made visible by an application
for iOS and Android. Those who
own such a phone will be able to learn
on the fly more about some of the most
emblematic historical landmarks in the
capital city, thanks to the Invisible Serdica
application. It is absolutely free and gives
users an opportunity to learn more about
the hidden and most impressive historical
and architectural landmarks in Sofia.
Images, videos, 3D models and interesting
stories and legends set it apart from the
standard tourist guide. Users can find
at this moment info on 6 key sites, the
Saint Sofia Church and the Sofia Roman
amphitheatre among them. The application
was developed by the Student Computer
24
Art Society. Its goal is to reveal the sites
in one of the oldest cities in Europe,
remarkable with its unique historical
heritage from different periods. It gives a
chance to find more about the landmark
and to picture what it looks like. Links
to the national catalogue of the country’s
academic libraries have been included
too. The catalogue’s system contains
books and different publications, devoted
to a diversity of cultural and historical
landmarks.
Old books with unique data, engravings,
images and graphics have been the source
of most of the information. The application
is available for downloading on Google play
and App Store, as more info can be found on
www.invisibleserdica.org.
zoom/live
Studio work
kicks off
for new
Milcho Leviev
project
by Albena Bezovska
I
n 1970, Milcho Leviev emigrated from Bulgaria. At that time he was already a
famous musician, with experience as soloist and conductor of the best Bulgarian
orchestras, including a band he founded, Jazz Focus '65. He moved to live and
work across the Atlantic at the invitation of Don Ellis. His work with the celebrated
American jazz trumpet player and band leader did not sever his connections with
Bulgaria, although it took him ten years before he could see his homeland again. He
was the first Bulgarian jazz musician to have boldly experimented with local folk
melodies and beats, and in the cradle of jazz at that. Leviev’s new project features the
Bulgarian National Radio Big Band conducted by Antoni Donchev and the Cosmic
Voices female choir. The folk group’s conductor Vanya Moneva says more:“The idea
of Milcho Leviev to write a work for big band and choir was born ten years ago, but it
was only now that the right moment came for it to be accomplished. The working title
of the project that I have selected is A Journey to Two Worlds. And the maestro always
adds, ‘Simultaneously!’ For the first part of the project he has selected Bulgarian folk
songs, all with names of women in their titles – Vida, Radka, Grozdanka ... He has
blended jazz themes with the folklore originals so expertly that the transition from one
state to another is imperceptible. He has recreated the atmosphere of a simultaneous
journey into two different cultural layers. We know he lived for many years in the U.S.
without returning home. I think the first part of A Journey to Two Worlds reveals
this longing, this strong bond with his roots. We now have to record the second part
Milcho Leviev is still working on. It is based on Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and
offers an innovative interpretation of the famous work. Once again we have seen what
an amusing person Mr. Leviev actually is. Sometimes, while on the move, he changes
the score, adding new things and eliminating other. He is emotional but at the same
time puts much wisdom into everything he does. The way in which he makes music is
different and this triggers creativity in all of us – the Big Band and the girls from the
Cosmic Voices. Milcho Leviev is uncompromising where work is concerned. He is
capable of abandoning even his own ideas. If one follows him in this process one will
soon see that his logic is infallible. It is an amazing experience to work with such an
artist - unconventional, brimming with ideas at any given moment. ”
In about a month from now, the musicians are going to record the second part of
The Journey and the album will be released in the autumn. The new project will be
presented with several concerts in the country.
25
zoom/culture
Painter Gredi Assa – crossing
the desert of beauty
by Veneta Pavlova
There is no doubt that the exhibition of works
by Prof. Gredi Assa which recently opened at
the Sofia Art Gallery is a pivotal event in the
world of painting for 2014. His talent takes
us to a realm of vivid vision, his concern to
preserve the beauty of our planet is striking.
His 49 large canvases are a testimony to the
homage he pays to nature and to art.
26
Gredi Assa has had dozens of exhibitions in
this country and abroad and has specialized
in Paris and New York. The exposition marks
the artist’s jubilee – he recently turned 60.
And its metaphorical title – Crossing the
desert – is a blend of his knowledge, his
bitterness, his hope and wisdom.
“What I mean is the desert inside us and the
desert around, the desert in the everyday
lives we lead. The things that surround us, the
things we cannot evade but have to face head
on and continue on our way. In the desert
we find the answer to many of our questions.
There you will find everything – wind, dreams
and mirages – all you have to do is make your
choice”, says Gredi Assa for Radio Bulgaria.
What is the choice he has made?
“I choose mirages”, the painter admits.
“The fact that you can see them, that you
can recognize them for what they are
– a starting point - and that is the idea,
the goal. This forms part of an artist’s
inspiration, experience, imagination.
Because you can only see a mirage if you
really want to. That is when you will see the
oasis as a haven.”
The artist has many poetic words to say
about the desert and its endlessness, a
place where he feels he is a discoverer
of unexpected beauty. But also of
“surmounting” four decades of painting, of
his outlook on life throughout that time.
And this is also an allusion to the bible
– the 40 years it took Moses to take his
people to the Promised Land. The desert’s
innumerable dunes have made Gredi Assa
feel like a speck of sand, but “a speck with
its own inner world, a world of freedom,
hope and inspiration.”
The exhibition features different genres,
including portraits. One of them is a
portrait of renowned Bulgarian film
director Dimitar Gochev who worked in
Germany for many years and who passed
away a few months ago.
“We were friends and he collected my
works, so we have talked about modern art
a great deal”, the artist goes on to say. “He
would inspire me with faith and strength
and that is why I have included his portrait
in the exposition. I am displaying portraits
of people I have felt close to or people who
have made me feel good.”
Vanishing beauty, concern for the Maldives
or for Venice are things Gredi Assa cares
about. “The Maldives are disappearing, as
is Venice, the diversity of nature is melting
away”, he says. “We might well be the
reason why this is happening and I have
made a note of it in my pictures. Venice is
an incredible place not just for actors or
painters, it has a power of attraction for
all kinds of art, for architecture. There is
food for the soul – it is not something I can
define right now – but I very much hope
the visitors to the exhibition will see that
wherever man may find himself, he must
look upon his own life cheerfully, with
more optimism. ”
What would Gredi Assa like to wish his
students?
“I very much hope that my students will
choose their own, unique path in life. That
they will not skip over from one thing to
another but will follow their road with
serenity. Because that is what will take
them to finer goals. And one other thing –
that they will not be artists of momentary
sensations, of the things that come and
go. That they will see the small things, the
dandelion under their feet, the blue skies,
the mountain. That they will distinguish
between different moods and integrate
them in their works to get a feel of life as it
is – the life of an artist.”
27
zoom/sport
Match between Levski and Barcelona in the quarterfinals for
the UEFA Cup, 1976 / Photo: BTA
Levski FC turns 100
T
here are ancient crafts in Bulgaria
and traditions that are kept by
few masters and passed from
one generation to another. There are also
generations of artists, doctors, lawyers,
but one of the most popular traditions is
the esteem for the football club of Levski.
The hereditary Levski fans in Bulgaria are
tens of thousands; some of them are fifthgeneration Levski fans. This explains why
the club that celebrates its 100th anniversary
in 2014 is known as the “team of the
people.” This title is well-deserved as a
recent UEFA poll showed that 31 percent of
the football fans in Bulgaria are of Levski.
This places the Bulgarian team 7-8th in
Europe alongside Juventus.
It all started in 1911 when a group of
students from Sofia got together to play
football. They were initially called “The
Sixth Club” as there were 5 other football
clubs in Sofia at that time. These were
Football Club, Club Football, Botev,
Rakovski and Razvitie. Unfortunately, the
plans to register the new club failed when
28
the Balkan Wars broke out. However on
May 24th, 1914 the dream of the young
people came true and a football club
bearing the name of the Bulgaria Apostle of
Freedom - Vasil Levski, was set up.
Since its creation, Levski has won 73
titles, which is a record for Bulgaria – 26
Bulgarian Championship titles, 26 national
cups, 3 Bulgarian Supercups, 11 titles from
the Sofia Championship, 3 Cups of the
Soviet Army, 4 Ulpia Serdica Cups. Initially
the colors of the team were yellow-red
shirts and black shorts. Later, blue became
the colour of the club.
Levski won its first champion’s title in
1933 after a 3:1 victory versus Shipchenski
Sokol (Varna). The latest success of the
blue team was five years ago when, in 2009,
Levski became champions of Bulgaria.
Undoubtedly, the most successful period
in the history of the team is the first decade
of the 21st century when Levski won 6
champion’s titles and 5 Bulgaria Cups.
Even though Levski is one of the most
successful Bulgarian teams, it has a number
by Wilhem Baltagian
of losses against teams with a much more
modest football reputation. Among them
are little-known teams from Finland,
Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and
Kazakhstan. Most memorable, however,
remain Levski's victories against Ajax,
Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Olympique de
Marseille, Sporting, Lazio and Udinese.
Levski has managed to reach the quarter
finals of the Cup Winners' Cup three
times, of the UEFA Cup once and the
Europa League once. In 2007, Levski
became the only Bulgarian team to reach
the group stage of the Champions League.
In the most popular tournament of the
past - the European Champions Cup,
Levski have reached the 1/8 finals three
times.
During the year of its centennial
anniversary, Levski has showed poor
performance. The team placed 5th in the
football championship of the country and
for the first time since 1990 it will not take
part in the European club tournaments.
The main event that marked the 100th
anniversary of the most popular football
club in Bulgaria was the friendly match
between Levski and Lazio at the Vasil
Levski National Stadium on May 23rd.
The anniversary was also marked also by
a festive concert and publishing of a book
about the 100th anniversary of the team.
A movie about the club was also shown
to the fans.
The sports section of the Bulgarian
National Radio also made a unique
contribution to these celebrations. The
sports department of the BNR made
a special gift to the management of
Levski - the first original photograph of
the club. An original stamp that reads
“Sports Football Club Levski Sofia
1914” can be seen on the 100-yearold photo. The unique photograph
used to be kept as a relic in the sports
department in the BNR.
29
zoom/calendar
What’s on in June
June 01-12, Varna
Varna Summer International
Theatre Festival
June 21-29, Rhodope Mountains,
Municipality of Smolyan
Wild Flower Festival
June 6-8, Kazanlak
Rose Festival
June 21-30, Sofia
Sofia Design Week
June 07- 11, Pomorie
International Festival of Orthodox
Christian Music
June 22-30, Perperikon, Kardzhali
Perperikon International Festival of
Arts
June 10-20, Plovdiv
50th International Festival of
Chamber Music
June 22, Sofia, Mount Vitosha
Vitosha Tour – 100 км
June 11-15, Pavel Banya
Festival of the Rose and Mineral
Water
June 12-15, Sofia
Big Beer Festival, Southern Park
June 15, Momtchilgrad
Night of Orpheus Traditional
Festival
June 17 – July 20, Plovdiv
Opera Open Summer Music
Festival, Ancient Roman Theater
June 20-25, Sofia
Water Tower Art Festival
June 20- 22, Troyan
Rock Music Academy & Beer
Festival
30
June 23, Etara, Gabrovo
Enyovden (Midsummer Day) at
Etara
June 23-29, Plovdiv
CraftsWeek at the Museum of
Ethnography
June 27-29, Kavarna
Kavarna Rock Music Festival
June 27-28, Kyustendil
Cherry Festival
June 27-30, Borovets
Borovets Bike Park Open Cup – an
international downhill mountain
bike race
June 28, Tran
Yoghurt Festival
June 21, Rousse
Rousse Masquerade
June 29-30, Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad, an Adventure Town –
festival of extreme sports
June 21, Sofia
Holi Festival of Colour, Akademik
Stadium
June 29, Gradina Campsite,
Sozopol
Sozopol July Morning Festival
Information and reservations:

zoom bulgaria 5

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