Paisii Hilendarski

In History of the Slavs and The Bulgarians, Piasii established the Bulgarian's right to have an independent nation. It was not an easy task, because it was extremely difficult to find historic evidence. For about two years he traveled about the Atone monasteries collecting bits of evidence. Next he traveled to Austria to read historical evidence about the Slavs and the Bulgarians. After returning to Bulgaria, he settled in Zografski Monastery, where he finished his work in 1762.

Aside from the many documents from the medieval Bulgarian kings, Paisii found historic evidence in the biographies of St Ivan of Rila, St Petka Turnovksa and Patriarch Evtimii. Compared with anything else in Bulgarian literature at that time, Paisii's work was radically different in both content and impact . Among the many memorable passages in the History of the Slavs and Bulgarians, Paisii advises readers to love their origin, their language and their Bulgarian names and angrily reproaches both Bulgarians who are ashamed of their origins and educated Bulgarians who make the claim that they are actually Greeks.

Paisii Hilendaski wrote of Bulgarian history up until the fall under the Ottoman Yoke. Apparently, he exaggerated the political power and cultural achievements throughout the centuries. One of his main focuses was the military victories of the Bulgarians in the past over Byzantine, the Tatars and the crusaders, with heavy stress on their bravery. By concentrating on the tremendous differences between the Bulgarians' glorious past and their sorrowful circumstances at the time of his writing, Paisii Hilendski succeeded in inspiring national self-confidence in his countrymen and effectively catalyzed the spiritual energy of the Bulgarians. Paisii's hopes were realized. His book became extremely popular and what he wrote quickly spread throughout the nation with an enormous effect on Bulgarian society.

History of the Slavs and Bulgarians loudly proclaimed the awakening of the previously lethargic Bulgarian spirit. That is why Paisii Hilendarski is considered to be the father of The Bulgarian National Revival. Paisii died in 1773.