The Codex of the Church of the Virgin in Haskovo as a source for Greek cultural influence and Bulgarian-Greek relations during nineteenth century
Part of : Balkan studies : biannual publication of the Institute for Balkan Studies ; Vol.42, No.1-2, 2001, pages 21-27
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21-27
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On the basis of the unpublished Codex of the Church of The Virgin inHaskovo for the period from 1831 until 1876, the report analyzes the Greekcultural influence on Bulgarian people and also the development stages ofBulgarian-Greek relation in 19th century. Certain facts from the Codex giveus the reason to accept that it was essentially the Codex of the HaskovoOrthodox community, as it contained activities and decisions that went beyondthe narrow scope of the parish. The Codex was written in three differentways: first in Greek, then in Bulgarian but with Greek letters, and finally inBulgarian Cyrillic alphabet. Chronologically, these three ways of writingcoincided with the stages in the development of Bulgarian-Greek relations in19th century. Namely: stage of infinite domination of Greek culture with itscorresponding favourable influence on Bulgarians; stage of manifestation ofthe negative consequences of this influence, especially in the process of denationalizationof some Bulgarian people and their subsequent resistance; stageof struggle for spiritual, cultural and national emancipation, which resulted inthe separation of Bulgaria from the Patriarchate of Constantinople.The Codex shows clearly how the gradual consolidation of the ChristianCity top crust and its participation in the economic life of the Ottoman Empireencouraged its aspirations to have an imposing church and a modern school.The allocated sums of money for this, described in the Codex, reveal theeconomic power of the city’s class of traders and craftsmen. And the completeuse of Greek language speaks of the infinite influence of Greek culture. Theseparation of Bulgarians from Greek peoples and the first manifestations of their aspiration for spiritual and national emancipation, which started aroundthe middle of 19th century, had its effect in the region of Haskovo and werereflected by the Codex. Here, unlike other places where ethnic Greek peoplelived, the majority of the Christian population was of Bulgarian origin. This isconfirmed not only by the names included in the Codex, but also by a report ofthe Greek Deputy - Consul in Plovdiv at the name, G. Kanakaris.The first act of the struggle for cultural and national emancipation inHaskovo was the 1845 decision of the local notables to school lessons to betaught in Bulgarian. Then as a reaction, the adherents of the pro-Greek partytried to drive away the Bulgarian teachers and Bulgarian language, whichwere already accepted at school and in church. The result of this struggle wonby the Bulgarian element, was the organizational separation of the pro-Greekcitizens of Haskovo. In 1853 they opened their own school and, eight yearslater, a church. All these things are illustrated from the Codex and also by thecircumstance that in the year when the Greek school was opened the Codex’sGreek language was replaced by Bulgarian language with Greek letters.The expansion of the struggle of Bulgarians after the Krim War and the1858 Church Council was reflected by the Codex. Since 1866, in the eve of the forthcoming schism, the Codex started to be written in Bulgarian Cyrillic alphabet.
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Κώδικας εκκλησιών
