site.btaJanuary 12, 1998: Original of 18th C. Slavonic-Bulgarian History by Paisius of Hilandar Is Returned to Athonite Zographou Monastery

Twenty-eight years ago on Monday, National Museum of History Director Bozhidar Dimitrov handed the original manuscript of Paisius of Hilandar's Slavonic-Bulgarian History to Hieromonk John, the representative of the Bulgarian monastic brotherhood in Mount Athos. On that date, the priceless artefact started its way back to the Bulgarian Athonite Monastery of St George Zographou.

Upon arrival in Karyes, the capital of Mount Athos, in the presence of a high-level delegation that accompanied it on its way from Bulgaria, officials of the secular Greek authorities, Hieromonk Kalinik (President of the monastic brotherhood of Mount Athos), and monks from all the Athonite monasteries, the History was handed over to the Hegumen of the Zographou Monastery, Archimandrite Ambrose. 

The manuscript, personally penned by Paisius in 1762, was discovered at the Zographou Monastery by Prof. Yordan Ivanov in 1906. It remained undisturbed at the monastery's library for nearly 80 years until December 1985 when, after two failed attempts, two Bulgarian State Security officers, posing as officials of the Bulgarian Consulate in Thessaloniki, switched the original with a replica. One of the agents smuggled the draft out of Zographou, hidden under his clothes. The manuscript eventually reached Sofia by diplomatic pouch. The top-secret operation, codenamed "Marathon", was devised by Department XIV for Cultural and Historical Intelligence at the State Security First Main Directorate. Paisius's History had topped the list of Bulgarian cultural assets abroad that had to be "recovered" by the Communist-era secret police under the pretext of saving them from damage, destruction or loss. The order, dating back to 1972, came directly from Todor Zhivkov's daughter Lyudmila Zhivkova. The media got wind of the operation back in 1992, but it was fully disclosed by investigative journalist Hristo Hristov in 2012. 

Since it was obviously impossible to give either scholars or the general public access to the stolen artefact, it was locked in the safe of the Chief of State Security First Main Directorate (External Intelligence), Lieutenant General Vasil Kotsev. After the advent of democracy, in 1996 the Director of the National Intelligence Service (the First Department's successor), General Brigo Asparuhov, handed the book to National Museum of History Director Bozhidar Dimitrov. Desperate to keep the artefact at the Museum, Dimitrov invented a tall story that an unidentified individual had left the manuscript, wrapped in a newspaper, in his personal assistant's office. Then President Stoyanov intervened, taking one of the most unpopular decisions of his term: in response to the monks' insistent requests, the manuscript would be returned to Zographou, where it rightfully belonged. The decision triggered a fierce campaign against the head of State and his approval rating plummeted, but he was adamant that this was the right thing to do. After being displayed at the National Museum of History, where thousands of weeping people waited for hours to bid farewell to the sacred Bulgarian book, the History left for the Athonite Monastery under heavy guard on January 12, 1998.

Following is BTA's Home News Desk coverage of the beginning of Paisius's History journey back to the Zographou Monastery:

"Slavonic-Bulgarian History to Be Kept at Zographou Monastery alongside Patriarch Euthymius's Liturgikon

Sofia, January 12, 1998 (BTA) -  Slavonic-Bulgarian History will be kept at the Zographou Monastery along with Patriarch Euthymius's Liturgikon, and Dragan's Menaion and other valuable manuscripts, the Zographou Hegumen, Father Ambrose, said at the National Museum of History (NMH) today.

He received the manuscript from NMH Director Bozhidar Dimitrov. Paisius's Slavonic-Bulgarian History left this morning for the Zographou Monastery on Mount Athos in a fireproof container.

The national treasure is accompanied by a delegation headed by Deputy Culture Minister Panteley Tsankov and including representatives of the President's Administration, the ministries of culture and foreign affairs, and the Zographou Ephoreia. The relic will be guarded by the National Service for Protection until it reaches the border [with Greece]. Fire safety measures have been taken for the entire journey. At the border, security will be taken over by the Greek police.

At Zographou, the History will be kept in a fireproof display case provided by the Ministry of Culture, in which it was exhibited for 15 months at the National Museum of History.

The Future for Bulgaria Foundation donated an artistically crafted book case to the Bulgarian monastic brotherhood, in which the manuscript will be placed on ceremonial occasions.  The book case was made on the initiative of the St. Pimen Zografski Association by artist Georgi Todorov and woodcarvers Svetlin Nikolov and Dimitar Hristov. Father Velin Iliev made the silver metal cover. Prof. Veselina Inkova, who chairs the Culture Ministry's expert commission, presented Father Ambrose with an expert assessment of the condition of the History and recommendations on how to preserve it.

'That we are returning the History is painful for me, but decisions must be made that are focused on the future, decisions that will bear fruit in the near future,' President Petar Stoyanov told journalists at the National Museum of History. 'We must learn to think like patriots, not like jingoists,' the head of State added.

According to him, no talks can be held with the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the history is returned.  He dismissed as 'speculation' the accusations that the manuscript is being returned to Greece. 'The Greeks do not care about this History.  It has been preserved thanks to the Bulgarian monks at the Zographou Monastery. Thanks to them, we will soon be able to see other valuable relics here," said Stoyanov. 

Attending the hand-over ceremony at the National History Museum were Culture Minister Emma Moskova, Prosecutor General Ivan Tatarchev, parliamentary Human Rights and Religious Denominations Committee Chair Ivan Sungarski, MPs, and representatives of the Holy Synod. Dozens of people gathered in front of the National Museum of History to see the History off. Nearly 700,000 people filed past the manuscript during its 15 months at the National Museum of History, including 328,000 schoolchildren, Bozhidar Dimitrov told BTA. On Saturday and Sunday alone, visitors numbered between 50,000 and 70,000."