Bulgarian Encyclopaedia Scientific Information Centre

The Balkans are richer in flora than any other comparable territory in Europe. Bulgaria is a country with an extremely large floristic diversity, and for its relatively small area, the number of higher plants is about 4100 species. Every year, the country exports 15,000–17,000 tonnes of herbs. This was announced during the official presentation of our new encyclopedia „Лечебните растения на България“ ("Medicinal Plants of Bulgaria"), which took place in the Prof. Marin Drinov hall at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. "The reason for the extraordinary diversity is the environmental heterogeneity – southern location and varied landscape, altitude from 0 to almost 3000 m and the influence of different biogeographical regions – Mediterranean, West Asian, steppe and alpine," said Assoc. Prof. Ina Aneva, scientific secretary "Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology" at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, responsible scientific editor of the encyclopedia. Bulgaria remained almost unaffected by the last great glaciation, and the average June temperatures during the Pleistocene were only 5 degrees lower than in modern times. Therefore, a large number of relict species have survived in Bulgaria, as well as endemic plants – Pirin poppy, Rila primrose, Orpheus flower, Sideritis elica.  In the "Medicinal Plants" encyclopedia, more than 270 types of plants are described, which are well tolerated by the body and can be used over a longer period of time at home. The first part of the encyclopedia examines the most important biologically active substances in medicinal plants, the morphology of the individual parts of the plants in order to make them easier to recognise, and indicates how they are collected and stored. The alphabetical articles include a botanical description of the plants, their synonyms used in different parts of Bulgaria, as well as their Latin names according to the latest edition of the European Pharmacopoeia.  Plants that do not contain poisonous or highly active substances have been selected for the edition. If any of them has a toxic effect, it is highlighted in red under what circumstances it is safe to use. The "Influence of medicinal plants on the body and human metabolism" table is a valuable aid, allowing the reader to easily navigate which plants can be used for a given disease. The dictionaries of botanical and medical terms also contain useful information.  "Today, plants with pharmacological activity are increasingly applied in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, alone or as additional means to conventional therapy, thanks to the expanding scientific knowledge of their active principles and their beneficial effect on various pathological processes in the body," explained Dr. Radka Yosifova, leading scientific editor of the publication. #books #plants #encyclopedia

The most ancient settlements in Bulgaria date from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. They are located on sheltered sunny plateaus, near springs and streams. During the Chalcolithic, fortified settlements were built in naturally protected areas, surrounded by a moat and walls. Prehistoric dwellings are usually single-storey, rectangular or close to a square in shape and include one or two rooms. Two-storey buildings were found in Sofia (Slatina district) and Stara Zagora. The dwellings are densely built, arranged in rows along sand or gravel streets that face the cardinal directions. The Slatina Early Neolithic settlement (5810–5750 BC) with an area of 8 ha includes a group of wattle and daub buildings in two parallel rows. A late Neolithic settlement with sod structures (5th millennium BC) was discovered near Lake Durankulak where the earliest stone architecture in Europe outside of Greece was revealed. The settlement is distinguished by massive palace and temple stone architecture. The buildings are extensive and consist of a room with a furnace and a vestibule open to the south. Their roofs are made of clay and medium-sized stones. The clay model of a temple (4200–4150 BC) found near the village of Ovcharovo, Targovishte region, is an example of prehistoric settlements’ interior. The furniture consists of three tables with three chairs each. On the three altars with pediments are depicted symbols of the Sun, the Moon, natural forces, and plant ornaments. #history #Bulgaria #architecture #construction

The Bulgarian hermit Ivan of Rila (Saint John of Rila) was born around 876 in the village of Skrino, Kyustendilsko. Around 900–901, the ascetic, considered a heavenly patron of the Bulgarians, gave away his property and became a monk. He lived in a secluded area in Rila and founded the Rila Monastery. He wrote a "Testament" with instructions to his disciples and followers about the life of monks. According to data from his hagiographies, he met Tsar Peter. He died on August 18th, 946 and was canonised by the Bulgarian Church. On October 19, 1195, his relics were transported from Sredets (today Sofia) to Tarnovo, on July 1, 1469 – from Tarnovo to the Rila Monastery. In 10–18 centuries, 16 original biographies were written about Ivan Rilski, the oldest of which is the so-called ''Narodno Zhitie'' ("People's hagiography"), created before 1180 by the Byzantine writer Georgi Skilitsa. The Bulgarian Patriarch Saint Euthymius of Tarnovo also wrote an artistic biography of St. Ivan of Rila, and in the 15th century Vladislav Gramatik wrote a continuation of it, known as "Rilska Povest" ("A Story from Rila"). The canonised biography describes Rila Monastery restoration and the saint relics' transfer from Tarnovo to the monastery. The writer Demetrius Kantakouzenos also wrote a biography with praise. Additionally, there are hagiographies from the 18–19th centuries. St. Ivan Rilski is also represented in numerous murals and icons. Source: https://lnkd.in/dC84_kZw

Bulgaria will host the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee next year. The event will take place between July 6 and 16, 2025, with over 1,500 participants from 150 countries. The conference will be chaired by Prof. Dr. Nikolay Nenov, Director of the Regional History Museum in Ruse. Delegations are expected to visit Plovdiv, Koprivshtitsa, Nessebar, Boyana Church, Rila Monastery and Sozopol. The official session will be accompanied by specialised forums.  The Bulgarian candidacy was voted at this year's session of the Committee in Delhi with the support of the leadership and a large part of the countries. Bulgaria has been a member of UNESCO since 1956, ten years after its Statute (1946) was adopted in London. In 1985, the 23rd regular session of the Committee was held in Sofia. In 1995, Bulgaria was elected vice-chairman of the UNESCO Executive Board. As a representative of our country in the International Council of Museums at UNESCO, the Bulgarian archaeologist Magdalina Stancheva proposed the inclusion of Thracian tomb of Kazanlak, Ancient City of Nessebar, Madara Rider, Boyana Church, Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, Rila Monastery and Srebarna Nature Reserve. #UNESCO #Bulgaria

Did you know that... the longest cave in our country is located in Ponor Mountain? According to the latest research from 2022 the length of Kolkina Dupka is 19,164 m, while Duhlata in Vitosha, considered to be the longest cave in Bulgaria so far, has a length of 17,600 m. The Ponor Mountain is located in the southern part of Western Stara Planina, between Petrohan Pass and Iskar Gorge. Morphologically, it is a karst area, a wide rocky plateau with an average height of 1300 m. It is built of thick deep-cut limestones. The highest peak is Sarbenitsa (1479 m). The ridge is flat and wide. The slopes to the Iskar Gorge are steep, over 200 m high. Along with the caves, there are numerous karst forms in Ponor, including valleys, whirlpools, chasms, blind valleys. The mountain is arid. In its periphery there are karst springs – Iskretski karst springs. Its higher parts are deforested, and the lower ones are occupied by forests of Hungarian oak, Turkey oak, Oriental hornbeam, pastures, fields. #cave #mountain #Bulgaria

Smradlika (Cotinus coggygria), also known in Bulgaria as kukuch, tetra, yaprak, yaprakova shumka, is a deciduous shrub up to 3 m high. It is found throughout Bulgaria, in thickets and oak forests, on dry and stony (calcareous) soils, up to about 800 m above sea level. Its branches have a reddish bark. Its leaves are broadly elliptical or egg-shaped and turn red in autumn. Smradlika’s flowers are small, greenish white, with four or five lobes. Its flower stalks are covered with hairs, and when the fruit ripens, they give a fluffy appearance to the inflorescence, which is carried by the wind along with the fruit. The fruit is a dark brown small stone with 1 seed. The leaves have the smell of turpentine, their taste is astringent. Smradlika contains gallotannins (15–25%), free gallic acid (3–5%), flavonoids and essential oil. It has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and hemostatic properties. It is applied only externally on wounds, inflamed gums, canker sores, herpes, hemorrhoids, joint swelling, feet sweating, fungal infections, hair loss, purulent rashes, boils. Smradlika’s leaves are used to prepare a decoction. 1 tablespoon of chopped leaves is boiled in 2 teacups of water for 10 minutes. After cooling, the decoction is used for dressings, gargles, compresses, and baths. Source: https://lnkd.in/d6B8ajyj. #herbs #medicine #plants

Do you know what "leaching" means? The term is used in mining and refers to the selective dissolution of useful components contained in the rocks with chemical reagents and removal of the chemical compounds formed in the reaction zone. The mineral is extracted from the compounds. Underground leaching is carried out at the place of deposit of ores by means of boreholes or mine workings. #terms #mining

For chronic lung diseases, an infusion can be prepared from the leaves of the coltsfoot (also called in Bulgarian mecha stapka, lopush, rushi skala). Two tablespoons of chopped leaves are infused with 2 teacups of boiling water. After 2 hours, the extract is filtered and drunk in the morning and in the evening (1 teacup of warm tea). The herb has an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, appetite-stimulating effect. It is used to treat laryngitis, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma. Also, crushed fresh leaves are used externally for wounds, ulcers, boils, corns, calluses, warts, contusions, phlebitis.  Coltsfoot is a perennial herb with a long creeping rhizome. Its leaves are almost round, heart-shaped. They develop after flowering and are dark green on the upper side and white fibrous on the lower side. The flower baskets are located at the tips of the flower-bearing stems, which are covered with scaly leaves and emerge from the rhizome nodes in late winter. The flowers are golden. The carpels are long and narrow. The leaves have a characteristic smell and slightly bitter taste. The coltsfoot grows on moist and clay soils, along streams, canals, in grassy and stony places. It is found up to about 1800 m above sea level: https://lnkd.in/d6B8ajyj. #herbs #medicine #plants #flowers #leaves

The "Sv. Stefan" Bulgarian Church in Istanbul was built on the site of a wooden chapel from 1849, named after the grandson of Sofroniy Vrachanski – Stefan Bogoridi, who donated his house in the Fener district and part of the funds for its construction. It is built entirely of steel and has a three-nave plan in the shape of a Latin cross. The decoration of its façade is Neo-Baroque, with Byzantine and Gothic elements. It was built according to the project of the architect Hovsep Aznavur, and the foundations were laid in 1892. The iron elements were made by an Austrian company, and their use was imposed by the unstable terrain. In 2011, a complete restoration of the church began with the strengthening of external columns and floor and covering the domes of the temple with golden leaves. The restoration was completed in 2017 by architect Fikriye Bulunmaz. The renovated Bulgarian church was reopened in full glory on January 7, 2018. #Bulgaria #church #Istanbul #architect #restoration

Did you know that... the great tit was declared a symbol of Sofia by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds in 2012? Tits are songbirds divided into four families: Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice (Paridae), Old World babbler (Timaliidae), Penduline tits (Remizidae) and Long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae). Their body is up to 20 cm long, their plumage is thick and soft, and their colouring is diverse. More than 320 species are known, permanent and migratory, distributed in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. There are 10 species in Bulgaria. Permanent and wandering, they inhabit forests, single trees and bushes in open spaces, near rivers, swamps, lakes, yards, gardens, parks. Specific forest birds are the Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus), the Coal Tit (Periparus ater), the Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus). Most closely related to the reservoirs are the Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus), the Eurasian Penduline Rit (Remiz pendulinus), etc. In a year, they raise two-three generations, lay 5–15 eggs. Extremely useful birds, they feed on insects, with their eggs and larvae. A pair of tits and its offspring annually destroys about 75 kg of insects. All tit species are protected. #birds #species #insects