Summary
Chernichevo (Bulgarian: Черничево) is a village in southern Bulgaria, located in the municipality of Krumovgrad in the Kardzhali Province. It is situated in the Eastern part of Rhodope Mountains, near the border with Greece. Its original Bulgarian name is "Dunyata" (Bulgarian: Дунята).[1] The correct geographical location of Chernichevo is 41° 21' N, 25° 47' E.
History edit
Ancient times and Middle Ages edit
Chernichevo is located in a region with an ancient history and rich past. Near the settlement there are seven Thraciandolmens.[2] The Bulgarian archeologist Georgi Nekhrizov identifies Eastern Rhodopi region (citing Chernichevo) as an area with a distinct dolmen building style, which is distinguished from the typical Thracian tradition.[3]
During the Middle Ages the Rhodopes were a battlefield of many wars between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Bulgarian Empire for influence in the Balkans. In these wars the local Bulgarian population supported the army of Bulgaria. In the Latin-Bulgarian conflict the local population supported the Bulgarian forces too. Geoffrey de Villehardouin claims that the local Bulgarians in the Southern Rhodopi killed in a battle Marquis Boniface of Montferrat who was the king of Thessaloniki.[4]
Later, in mid 14th century, the region was attacked by Turkish troops, which made their first significant appearance in Europe in these years. Near Chernichevo there are ruins of an old village, a medieval fortress and a monastery, destroyed probably during the Ottoman invasion.
Ottoman rule and strife for liberation edit
During the Ottoman rule, a part of the population of Chernichevo adopted Islam. A few of the village's neighborhoods were inhabited by Muslims, and a few neighborhoods by Christians, both speaking a Bulgarian dialect.[5] In 1848 the Christian community built an Orthodox church called "St. Atanasios" (Bulgarian: "Свети Атанасий").[6] At the end of 19th century the Bulgarians - Christians in Chernichevo established a secret section of Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization.[7]
During the Balkan Wars the village suffered from ethnic and religious tensions. According to Bulgarian academician Lyubomir Miletich's book The Destruction of Thracian Bulgarians in 1913, in the summer and the autumn of 1913 nearly 100 Christian residents of Chernichevo were killed by the Muslim volunteers from the unrecognized Provisional Government of Western Thrace.[8] Today the memory of the innocent victims is honoured by the big monument in the center of the village. The Bucharest Treaty left the village in the borders of Bulgaria. Some Muslim families, which collaborated with the Provisional Government of Western Thrace, moved to Turkey after the treaty.
Modern history edit
Soldiers from Chernichevo participated in the Bulgarian army during the World wars, defending their country. Three soldiers died in the Battle of the River Cherna.[9]
In 1950s Chernichevo became a stage for many border accidents between Bulgarian forces and saboteurs from Greece. On August 21, 1952, the commander of the local border outpost Lieutenant Mladen Kaleev died in а skirmish with Greek infiltrators who had entered Bulgarian territory.[10]
Traditional culture edit
Music and musical instruments edit
The bagpipe and the kaval are traditionally used instruments in Chernichevo. The local music belongs to the Rhodopi folklore region.
Weaving edit
The women of Chernichevo used looms to weave blankets, carpets and aprons.
Religion edit
In Chernichevo cohabit Bulgarian-speaking people, professing Orthodox Christianity and Sunni Islam.
Chernichevo today edit
Since the second half of 20th century, the settlement's population has been decreasing. Many young people have left their village to find better career and social opportunities.
Community center edit
On March 20, 2010, an initiative committee restored the activity of the village's community center "Byalo more 1929" (Bulgarian: Бяло море 1929).[11]
Chernichevian diaspora edit
The term Chernichevian diaspora refers to the population who left Chernichevo and their descendants. Chernichevo has a large presence in towns like Krumovgrad, Kardzhali, Haskovo and Plovdiv. Many Chernichevians moved to the state's capital Sofia.
Chernichevian communities edit
Chernichevian diaspora maintains a blog about the local history and a Facebook group.
Notable Chernichevians edit
- Krasimir 'Krasi' Moskov (born 19 July 1979), a talk show host on the popular Bulgarian radio Z-Rock, currently living in Sofia.
References edit
- ^ Станков, Георги (2009). "Имената на Черничево", in Bulgarian
- ^ Станков, Георги (2007) "Доклад за некрополите в Източните Родопи - нещо повече за долмените край Черничево", in Bulgarian
- ^ Nekhrizov, Georgi (1993) "Могилните некрополи в Източните Родопи" (Nound necropoli in East Rhodope mountains), a report for International symposium "Sevtopolis" in Kazanlak, Bulgaria
- ^ Villehardouin, Geoffrey. "Memoirs or Chronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople" Archived 2013-10-11 at the Wayback Machine, in English
- ^ Станков, Георги (2009). "За махалите в Черничево" (On Chernichevo's neighborhoods), in Bulgarian,
- ^ Станков, Георги (2008). "Църквата "Св. Атанасий" в Черничево - на 160 години!", in Bulgarian
- ^ Караманджуков, Христо (1934). "Западнотракийскитѣ българи въ своето културно-историческо минало, съ особенъ погледъ къмъ тѣхното политико-революционно движение", pp.231,234
- ^ Милетич, Любомир (1918). "Разорението на тракийските българи през 1813 година", in Bulgarian
- ^ Станков, Георги (2009). "Черничевци, загинали в Първата световна война" (Chernichevians died in WWI), in Bulgarian
- ^ Станков, Георги (2007)"В памет на Младен Калеев"(In memory of Mladen Kaleev), in Bulgarian
- ^ Staнков, Георги (2010). "На 20 март 2010г. читалището в Черничево възобнови дейността си", in Bulgarian
External links edit
- Chernichevo (in Bulgarian)
41°21′N 25°47′E / 41.350°N 25.783°E