Dr. Nadezhda Krasteva, Assoc. Prof.,Dr. Vladislav Krastev, Assist. Prof.
South-West University “Neofit Rilski”
https://doi.org/10.53656/ped2024-8.01
Absract. The study is about the national role of Neofit Rilski in the development of the New Bulgarian culture and education in the first half of the 19th century. A mendicant friar, preacher, scholar, scribe, teacher – with his wise vision Father Neofit enlightened the Bulgarians everywhere to the ideals of the New Time; he convinced them that with knowledge and morality there were also opportunities for them to be happy in the civilized world. The position of the scribe-teacher Neofit as a subjective factor in the processes of modelling the social basis for the social progress of the Bulgarian population is analysed from a contemporary cultural aspect. The influence of his bright personality on the growth of the Renaissance
intellectuals-patriots and on the training of the first professional teachers of the
nation in Gabrovo and Koprivshtitsa is commented. As a result, it is proved that
Neofit Rilski was the useful democrat-evolutionist of the native Renaissance and
the real cultural centre of the Bulgarian enlightenment-revolutionary movement for
the liberation of the Fatherland.
Keywords: monk of Rila; scribe; philologist; teacher; Gabrovo school
As long as my eyes see and other ears serve, I will not stop
working for the benefit of our people, as much as I can.
Neofit Rilski
