Етноинтегриращата функция на култовете на българските светии в периода на османското владичество
The Ethno-Integrating Function of the Cults of Bulgarian Saints in the Period of Ottoman Domination

Summary/Abstract: The authoress characterizes the formation and ethnic functions of the Bulgarian saints in the periods of the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdoms. She indicates the ideological roles of the cults of the Seven Holy Saints (SS. Constantine-Cyril and Methodius, Clement, Nahum, Sava, Gorazd and Angelarius), St. John of Rila, St. Gabriel of Lesnovo, St. Prohor of Pchin. St. Michael of Ossogovo, St. Petka of Turnovo, St. Hilary of Muglen and others. She pays special attention to the development of the cults of these saints in the period of Ottoman domination, when some of the cults of the Seven Holy Saints disappeared, while that of SS. Cyril and Methodius as Bulgarian saints imposed itself with the tremendous national importance of their feast. The cult of St. John of Rila also developed and the influence of Rila Monastery on the national culture of the National Revival period was immense. The saint was placed in the calendar of feasts and was accepted as a saint common to all Bulgarians and a supporter of their faith. The cult of St. Petka was preserved and it spread wide all over the Bulgarian ethnic territory. The authoress also indicates the creation of a new type of saints — great martyrs for the faith, as a form of preserving the nationality under the conditions of alien political and religious oppression; it also stabilized the Bulgarian national consciousness. She emphasizes the national feature in the formation and action of the cult of the Bulgarian saints, their influence on folklore, the list of names and the Bulgarian calendar system.

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