Sophronius of Vratsa
Saint Sophronius of Vratsa (or Sofroniy Vrachanski; Bulgarian: Софроний Врачански; 1739–1813), born Stoyko Vladislavov (Bulgarian: Стойко Владиславов), was a Bulgarian cleric and one of the leading figures of the early Bulgarian National Revival.[1][2]
Biography
Vladislavov was born in the town of
After the dislocations caused by Osman Pazvantoğlu, the bishop's duties became more and more difficult for Vladislavov and he left Vratsa in 1797 to wander in northwestern Bulgaria. He spent three years in Vidin in a period that helped him determine his goals as a writer. He left for Bucharest in 1803 to serve the people as a high-standing clergyman, being released on his insistence from his bishop's post but continuing to sign under his bishop's name.
Between 1806 and 1812 Sophronius of Vratsa was one of the most eminent representatives of the Bulgarian people in their communication with the Russian commanding of the
Works
Sophronius wrote his best and most popular works in his Bucharest period. These include Nedelnik („Неделник“)—his only printed work—a collection of precepts and sermons for every holiday of the year based on Greek and Slavic sources. The collection had historical importance in initiating book printing in modern Bulgarian and establishing the Bulgarian vernacular as the language of literature. This big book includes also several woodcuts and ornaments making it an impressive object. He also wrote another collection, Sunday Evangelic Interpretation in 1805, as well as a very popular autobiography, Life and Sufferings of Sinful Sophronius („Житие и страдания грешнаго Софрония“, Zhitie i Stradaniya Greshnago Sofroniya) and an appeal to Bulgarian people, making him the most noted representative of the Bulgarian literature of the early 19th century.
Legacy
Sophronius of Vratsa was
St. Sofroniy Knoll on Snow Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Sophronius of Vratsa.
Descendants
Sophronius of Vratsa was married to Ganka. They had four children – Tsonko, Vladislav, Maria and Ganka. Through his son Tsonko Sophronius was ancestor of:
- Prince Stefan Bogoridi (1775/1780–1859) – a high ranking Ottoman statesman.
- Prince Alexander Bogoridi (1822–1910) – an Ottoman statesman and governor-general of Eastern Rumelia.
- Prince Nicolae Vogoride (1821–1868) – Ottoman-nominated Governor (kaymakam) of Moldavia;
- Anna de Noailles (1876–1933) – French writer and poet;
Notes
- ^ Bourchier, James David (1911). . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 04 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 779–784 see page 781.
The National Revival....& ...The precursors of the movement were ....and Bishop Sofronii, whose memoirs....
- ^ Buchan, John, ed. (1924). "Bulgaria". Bulgaria and Romania: The Nations of Today; A New History of the World. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 30. Retrieved 21 June 2021 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ MacDermott, Mercia (1962). A History of Bulgaria 1395–1885. New York: Frederick A. Praeger. p. 97. Retrieved 21 June 2021 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Mutafchieva, Vera (1983) page 7 'Book about Sophronius' Publisher "Georgi Bakalov" Varna
External links
- Life and Sufferings of Sinful Sophronius, online text (in Bulgarian)
- World Digital Library presentation of Kyrīakōdromion or Sunday Book authored by Sophronius of Vratsa. Library of Congress.
- The Early Bulgarian Imprint Collection at the Library of Congress has works by Sophroniums of Vratsa.
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