Famous Bulgarians – Top Ten

by Julie Tetel Andresen | August 6, 2019 |

This past week I hung out in Balchik, Bulgaria. Thus I had the opportunity to speak with the locals about famous Bulgarians. Once again, I had lots of fun with my project. People the world over like to name who among them deserve a claim to fame.

Famous Bulgarians Historical: Inventors

Saints Cyril and Methodius

It’s my list, so I get to go linguistic. At the top I put the two people credited with inventing the Cyrillic alphabet. As such, they merit the title image.

Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers who lived in the 9th century. They were Byzantine Christian theologians and missionaries. Although they came from Greece, their work involved the language known as Old Bulgarian. So I count them as Bulgarian. (Hey, it’s my list.)

In the title image the two theologians are holding examples of their work. Many Slavic languages such as Russian use the Cyrillic alphabet. Some non-Slavic languages, such as Mongolian, use the Cyrillic alphabet. And some Slavic languages, such as Polish, do not use Cyrillic. They use the Roman alphabet.

John Vincent Atanasoff

John Atanasoff (1903-1995) invented the first electronic digital computer. His father, Ivan Atanasoff, was Bulgarian.

In 1970 Atanasoff received his first national award for scientific achievement. What could make me happier? He won The Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius. First Class. Bulgaria’s highest scientific honor.

Famous Bulgarians Historical: Architect

Nikola Fichev

Nikola Fichev (1800-1881) was an architect, builder and sculptor. He is known as Kolyu Ficheto. Among his achievements is the Byala Bridge over the Yantra River.

This is an excellent example of Bulgarian National Revival architecture

Get this: Ficheto Point in Antarctica is named after Kolyu Ficheto. The things you find out while investigating famous people ….

Famous Bulgarians Historical: Poet

Nikola Jonkov Vaptsorov

Nikola Jonkov Vaptsorov (1909-1942) was a poet, communist and revolutionary. He worked as a machinist for most of life. He produced only one book of poetry, Motoring Verses (1940). Nevertheless, he still counts as one of Bulgaria’s most important poets.

Because of underground activities, he died by firing squad.

Famous Bulgarians Historical: Nobel Prize

Elias Canetti

Elias Canetti (1905-1994), born in Ruse, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1981.

He was a German-language writer. When he was young, his family moved first to Manchester, England then to Vienna Austria. After the Nazi Anschluss in 1938 he moved back to England. He became a British citizen in 1952.

Famous Bulgarians Historical: Politician

Todor Zhivkov

Todor Zhivkov (1911-1998) was the communist leader of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria from 1954-1989.

The People’s Republic of Bulgaria ceased to exist in 1990. It became Republic of Bulgaria.

Famous Bulgarians Contemporary: Sports

I was staying at the Regina Maria Hotel. Alexandry was the young man at Reception. I told him I was composing a list of famous Bulgarians. Then I asked him the question: “Who’s the first name to come to mind?”

Immediately he replied, “Dimitar Berbatov.”

This response got ready confirmation from his friend standing next to him.

Dimitar Berbatov

The speed of the reply suggested Berbatov might be a soccer player.

Shocker-oo, he is. He is Bulgaria’s all-time leading scorer. And he has played on soccer teams outside of Bulgaria, including Manchester United.

Ivet Lalova

The next name the two men at Reception mentioned was Ivet Lalova, a sprinter. She is much decorated.

Holding the Bulgarian flag aloft

She is tied for fastest runner not of West African descent.

Famous Bulgarians Contemporary: The Arts

Raina Kabaivanska

Raina Kabaivanska is soprano opera singer. Her specialties are Verdi and Puccini, although she has sung a wide range of roles.

Nina Dobrev

Nikolina Konstantinova Debreva – Nina Dobrev – comes from Sofia. She has made a name for herself in Hollywood. Her first acting role was Mia Jones in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2006-2009). Then starred in The Vampire Diaries (2009-2015).