САМОКОВ – РОДНО МЯСТО НА СВ. ПАИСИЙ ХИЛЕНДАРСКИ
SAMOKOV – THE BIRTHPLACE OF ST. PAISIUS OF HILENDAR

Summary/Abstract: The debate for the birthplace of St. Paisius of Hilendar emerged rather late – practically after the Balkan Wars and the First World War. Until then, everyone was unanimous that the saint originated from the town of Samokov / the village of Dospei, Samokov region. As of today, three hypotheses for the birthplace of St. Paisius of Hilendar are defined: 1. Kralevdol hypothesis (the village of Kralev dol, District of Pernik), 2. Bansko hypothesis (the vilage of Bansko, District of Blagoevgrad), and 3. Samokov hypothesis (the town of Samokov / the village of Dospei). The problem regarding the birthplace of St. Paisius of Hilendar can be solved through the use of three types of evidence: • Folklore stories, toponyms, etc. • Documental (written) evidence – parish registers, attributions, etc. • Language evidences – derived from the draft of the “Slavo-Bulgar History” (Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya), preserved in the “St. George Zograf” Zograf Monastery in Mount Athos. All three types of evidence unequivocally display that the birthplace of St. Paisius of Hilendar is the town of Samokov / the village of Dospei.

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