Неизвестни мемоари на екзарх Стефан I Български: между личната памет и историческата мисия
Unknown Memoirs of Exarch Stefan I of Bulgaria: Between Personal Memory and Historical Mission

Summary/Abstract: The article presents and critically examines newly discovered memoirs of Exarch Stefan I of Bulgaria (1878–1957), entitled Brief Memories and Impressions from Visits to Certain Countries in Northern Europe. From a source-critical perspective, the study analyzes a text that combines autobiographical narrative, spiritual reflection, and diplomatic observation, derived from the author’s travels and ecclesiastical missions across Europe. Stefan’s personal recollections are closely interwoven with major social, political, and ecclesiastical transformations in Bulgaria during the first half of the twentieth century. Particular attention is given to his impressions of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, which are portrayed as models of established democratic culture, social justice, and religious morality. Through comparative analysis, the memoirs juxtapose the perceived order and civility of Northern Europe with what the author characterizes as “Balkan chaos,” thereby articulating normative guidelines for societal and spiritual renewal. Distinguished by their multi-layered structure, the memoirs combine documentary precision, cultural-historical insight, and philosophical depth, offering an original perspective on Bulgaria’s international ecclesiastical and cultural interactions during the period under review.

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