Balgarianovinite.com Pencho Slaveykov should be read as a living author whose ideas continue to resonate today, participants agreed during the discussion “Pencho Slaveykov Today”, organized by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) at its National Press Club in Gotse Delchev to mark the 160th anniversary of the poet’s birth. The event is part of a nationwide series of discussions held at all 33 of BTA’s national press clubs, with the conclusions to be brought together in a special December issue of LIK magazine.
BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said the initiative aims to change the way anniversaries of Bulgaria’s great cultural figures are commemorated. Rather than being “turned into marble monuments”, he argued, they should remain a permanent part of public discourse. Valchev also highlighted Slaveykov’s connections with the Nevrokop region, despite the fact that the poet never visited it. Among these were his literary friendship with Peyo Yavorov, the first mayor of liberated Nevrokop; his ties to actor Krastyo Sarafov, who was born in Libyahovo, today’s village of Ilinden; his poem Pirin and Rila; Petko Slaveykov’s efforts to send Bulgarian books to Nevrokop; and the spiritual continuity represented by poet Boris Hristov, who lives in the village of Leshten.
The discussion was moderated by poet, literary scholar and critic Yordan Eftimov, who argued that Pencho Slaveykov should be regarded as a contemporary voice rather than an untouchable literary classic. He said the discussions organized by BTA provide an opportunity to present the full complexity of the poet’s personality and work, moving beyond the conventional descriptions of him as a philosophical poet and one of the founders of Bulgarian modernism.
Gotse Delchev Mayor Vladimir Moskov described the initiative as an opportunity to encourage more people to rediscover Slaveykov’s literary legacy.
Plamen Masarliev, Chair of the Lyudmil Stoyanov Literary Club, expressed concern that fewer and fewer young people are familiar with Slaveykov’s life and works. He said an informal survey he conducted among school pupils, university students and residents of Gotse Delchev found that only a handful could say anything meaningful about the poet. In his view, this only reinforces the need for initiatives of this kind.
Artist and writer Nikolay Marinov spoke about the importance of language and literature in people’s spiritual development. He encouraged younger generations to discover the power of words and also drew attention to Mara Belcheva, arguing that she deserves recognition as an accomplished writer in her own right rather than being remembered primarily as Pencho Slaveykov’s companion.
Bulgarian language and literature teachers from Gotse Delchev also joined the discussion. Yana Halacheva, a teacher at the Dimitar Talev Vocational High School in Nevrokop, said students should be encouraged to explore the ideas embedded in Slaveykov’s works instead of simply memorizing literary classifications.
The Pencho Slaveykov Today initiative is taking place across all 33 of BTA’s national press clubs throughout Bulgaria. The first discussion dedicated to Pencho Slaveykov was held in his hometown of Tryavna on April 27, marking the 160th anniversary of his birth. Since then, similar events have been hosted in Samokov, Kazanlak, Stara Zagora, Kyustendil, Pernik, Haskovo, Pazardzhik, Kardzhali, Smolyan, Plovdiv, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, Svishtov, Ruse, Blagoevgrad and Petrich. BTA Discussion in Gotse Delchev Highlights Pencho Slaveykov’s Ties to Nevrokop Region and Enduring Relevance of His Work 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-15 20:14:32 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law