Does the Bulgarian language have a place in Banat?

Svetlana Karadjova

Summary

Svetlana Karadjova’s text analyzes the activities and significance of the Department of Bulgarian Language at the West University of Timișoara (Romania) during the 2025–2026 academic year, placing it within the context of the centuries-long presence of Bulgarians in the Banat region.

Main points of the paper:

• Historical context and mission: The Bulgarians of Banat traditionally use their own specific linguistic variety, written in the Latin alphabet. The department’s mission, actively revived following the sudden death of former professor Dr. Grigor Grigorov in June 2026, is to preserve the language, promote the Cyrillic alphabet, elevate the status of the Bulgarian language to the academic level, and connect the isolated diaspora with modern Bulgaria.
• Educational Activities: Throughout the school year, the author expanded the scope of instruction through free evening courses. Flexible groups were formed for beginners and advanced learners; by the end of the year, 11 dedicated students from the community remained, and in the second semester, the language was also included in the university’s regular curriculum for four students.
• Scientific and Cultural Integration: The courses successfully utilize an anthology of texts by Bulgarian Catholics, published as part of a project by the Bulgarian National Academy of Sciences (2023–2025). Innovative university initiatives are underway, such as the recitation of Bulgarian poetry (Vazov, Debelyanov) on public transportation in Timișoara and a visit by Bulgarian Ambassador Radko Vlaykov.
• Community Discussions in Dudeștii Vechi: Between November 2025 and March 2026, 11 discussion meetings were held on Saturdays at the Cultural Center in Dudeștii Vechi. During these sessions, local intellectuals and researchers discussed the community’s history, archives, linguistic paradigms, literature, and traditions.
• Future Developments: Thanks to the university’s support and scholarships provided by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (which have enabled three people to participate in summer seminars in Bulgaria), the department is establishing itself as an active center for cultural exchange and linguistic revival in Banat.

Article

Banat is a region where the Bulgarian presence dates back centuries. It is associated with the Bulgarians of Banat and their distinct language—a variant of literary Bulgarian that preserves ancient features and has its own unique characteristics. This determines the special role of the Department of Bulgarian Language in Timișoara, which is intended to serve not only as a bridge between Bulgarians in the diaspora and their homeland, but also as a bridge between Romanians and Bulgarians in general.

The Bulgarians of Banat have adopted the Latin alphabet and have their own literary standard, created by Iosif Rill and the Literary Society of Vinga between 1862 and 1865. The lack of books from Bulgaria at the end of the 19th century and in the first decades of the 20th century made it difficult to learn the Cyrillic alphabet. The situation changed after 1948, when, at the school in the largest Bulgarian settlement in Banat, Dudeștii Vechi, the Bulgarian language was introduced into the curriculum for the first time, for a period of several years. At first, this process was not without conflict, due to tensions with local authorities and Romanian teachers, as well as the small number of teachers sent from Bulgaria, who were not prepared for the particularities of the environment they were entering. Gradually, everyone became convinced that learning the Cyrillic alphabet and the Bulgarian language is not only possible but also yields excellent results.

The ongoing connection to the Cyrillic alphabet and the variant of the Bulgarian language spoken in the motherland is always fostered through personal stories, contacts with Bulgaria, friends, travels, and shared experiences. For this reason, the Department of Bulgarian Language at the West University of Timișoara aims to support the preservation of the language within the Bulgarian community by creating conditions for more active communication with Bulgaria and, at the same time, elevating the status of the Bulgarian language to the academic level in Banat.

The History of the Department of Bulgarian Language at the West University of Timișoara

The history of Bulgarian language instruction at the West University of Timișoara began in 2019, thanks to the sustained efforts of Mr. Gheorghi Nacov, then mayor of Dudeștii Vechi and currently a member of the Bulgarian minority delegation in the Romanian Parliament. The first attempt to hire a Bulgarian language instructor in 2019 was unsuccessful. Dr. Milena Veleva, a lecturer at Sofia University, was the first person to hold this position, but she stayed only three months and, due to a lack of students, returned to Bulgaria.

Until 2024, the department was unable to find a faculty member, but in the 2024–2025 academic year, Dr. Grigor Grigorov from South-West University in Blagoevgrad expressed interest and took over the position. His professional career included long-term teaching experience at universities in Moldova, Belarus, Romania, and Hungary. In Timișoara, his life came to an abrupt end on 1 June 2026. During the academic year, there were four students, none of whom were from the Bulgarian community. Ethnic Romanians from Vojvodina and Serbs from Timișoara showed interest in the language, mainly because of the Cyrillic alphabet and its similarity to Serbian.

Last Academic Year

In the 2025–2026 academic year, when the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria sent me to fill the vacant position, I started with two students from the previous year. To expand the circle of people studying the language, the University of the West opened free evening courses for members of the community in the city and the region. Thus, of the more than 40 people who registered via online applications, half of them attended the first session. They were divided into two groups—beginners and advanced— given that some of them are members of the Bulgarian community in Banat who studied Bulgarian for 12 years in Dudeștii Vechi, while others are Bulgarians from Banat who come from other localities and did not have access to education in their native language, or ethnic Romanians encountering the Cyrillic alphabet for the first time. The groups are flexible, as some participants dropped out because they were unable to reconcile their work schedules with the course days and times. A total of 12 people remained, a number that decreased by the end of the year to 11 who attended the courses regularly and with dedication.

In the second semester, Bulgarian was already included in the regular curriculum, which allowed four students from the University of the West to choose this elective course—two advanced students from the previous year and two beginners from the evening course. In the evening groups, students are initially divided equally—four beginners and four advanced students.

The most significant achievement of this academic year is the presence of the language within the university and the creation of a small community that is forming as students study it. The individualized approach within each group does not lose sight of the main objective—a more conscious Bulgarian cultural presence, based on the language and engagement with Bulgarian cultural life, as well as the integration of Bulgarians from Banat into the broader processes of Bulgaria.

Research Projects of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

One way to reach out to this isolated community—which, in its effort to protect itself from assimilation, is also losing its connection to the homeland—is through the scientific projects of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences related to the Bulgarians of Banat. The project “The Cultural Identity of the Bulgarians in Banat and Bulgarian Catholic Literature,” funded by the “Scientific Research” Fund under contract no. KP-06-Н70/1 and coordinated by Senior Research Associate Dr. Magdalena Abadzhieva, was carried out between 2023 and 2025. The project team includes  Prof. Dr. Mariana Tsibranska-Kostova,  Prof. Dr. Lucia Antonova-Vasileva, Dr., Assoc. Prof. Kalina Micheva-Peiceva, Senior Research Associate Dr. Magdalena Abadzhieva, Senior Research Associate Dr. Yavor Ivanov, and Dr. Svetlana Karadjova. The project falls within the Institute of the Bulgarian Language’s priority area “The Linguistic, Cultural, and Historical Heritage of the Bulgarians” and, as a result of the scientific research, has produced 43 scholarly publications, including two monographs, two anthologies of studies and articles, an anthology of texts, and a draft reading textbook for children in Banat.

This anthology, titled “Texts from the Literature of Bulgarian Catholics and from the Literature of Banat,” published on the website of the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Publishing House of the Bulgarian National Academy of Sciences, is the first anthology to present the literature of Bulgarian Catholics. The publication contains 38 texts from manuscripts, old printed books, as well as contemporary examples of literature from Banat. Each text is accompanied by a scholarly commentary and explanatory notes, and is rendered in modern Bulgarian.

As part of the activities of the department in Timișoara, the first meeting took place between the students and representatives of the community to discuss the texts in the anthology.

The anthology was used primarily to provide information about the connection between the Bulgarians of Banat and the Catholic Bulgarians in Bulgaria. The adapted texts by Bulgarian authors from Banat are received with the greatest warmth, as they reflect the community’s history, told in a different form of the Bulgarian language. The symbiosis between language, culture, and history thrives among the Bulgarians of Banat thanks to the special place they accord language as the guardian of memory.

Discussion Meetings in Dudeștii Vechi

Another aspect of the department’s work is the creation of a series of meetings to discuss topics in history, culture, and traditions. The “Karol Telbizov” Cultural Center in Dudeștii Vechi serves as the natural hub for this series, where, from November 2025 through March 2026, eleven discussion meetings were held on Saturdays. The first meeting took place on 22 November 2025, with the aim of reestablishing the “PG 33” intellectual circle. The foundation bearing this name was established in 1990 in Dudeștii Vechi. It was founded with the unanimous consent of its members, who initially numbered thirty-three. The name derives from the expression “the Paulician group.” Its purpose is to foster cultural ties with all European cultures in the fields of literature, philosophy, visual arts, sports, and music. The primary goal is to preserve, enrich, and showcase the spirituality of the Palkeni (the Bulgarians of Banat). The founding president was historian Constantin (Gyura) Calciov, and the vice president was Dr. Petar Augustinov. They published only three issues of the magazine of the same name and erected commemorative busts of Carol Telbizov in Dudeștii Vechi and of the former mayor of Timișoara, Carol Telbis.

The idea of reviving this organization’s activities did not come to fruition, but the tradition of gathering on Saturdays at the Cultural Center took root in the hearts of those few intellectuals eager to exchange ideas. The series of topics reflects a wide range of interests and pursuits. The beginning was symbolically marked by the group’s youngest member, Gyuri Budur (George Budur), who earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Veliko Tarnovo “Sts. Cyril and Methodius” and later his master’s degree from the University “St. Clement of Ohrid” in Sofia. On 22 November 2025, he presented a paper titled “The Ethnonyms of the Bulgarians in Banat: A Proposal for a New Scientific Paradigm,” as an attempt to provide an academic framework for enriching knowledge about the community and encouraging research by community representatives.

At the second meeting, held on 13 December 2025, Dr. Nicolae Markov (Miki Markov) presented his studies on the life and work of Imre Berecz. Of Hungarian origin, a speaker of the Bulgarian language of the Banat region, and a priest in Star Beșenov for approximately five months, he became the founder of Bulgarian literature in the Banat region in 1851 with the publication of “The Little Catechism” (“Manachija Kathekismus za katholicsanskite paulichane, written by Imre Berecz, priest. Paid for by Peter Uzun, mayor of Breștea. Printed by Josu Bejchel in Timișoara”). The interesting facts regarding the presence of Bulgarians in Banat throughout his entire body of work in Hungarian provide a good starting point for Bulgarian studies researchers in Hungary and aim to attract researchers from the University of Szeged with a view to establishing ties with the University of Timișoara.

On 10 January 2026, two of the founding members of the “PG 33” Foundation, Dr. Petar Augustinov and historian Constantin Calciov, recounted the beginnings, initiatives, and dreams of the first group of 33 members who, in 1990 in Star Beșenov, laid the foundations of the organization. This meeting prompted Nicolae Markov to later describe his memories (“PG 33” Chronicles – Some Memories, Sweet and Bitter (I)) of the post-revolution period and the emergence of the Union of Bulgarians in Banat, Romania, which were published and marked the beginning of a process of documenting testimonies regarding contemporary developments within the community.

The poet Toni Uzun (Pelva) is the symbolic host of the third meeting, held on 17 January 2026. In the 1990s, he published in the pages of the newspaper “Naša glas” with the active editorial support of Gyuka Ghergulov, and his poetry collection, published in December 1997, is, given the circumstances, the first independently published poetry collection by a Bulgarian poet from Banat.

The next two events, on 24 and 31 January 2026, represent an effort to broaden understanding of the community through two lectures I will deliver. The first is titled “The Bulgarians of Banat—Processes and Memory” and presents the key moments in the transformation of self-awareness among the Catholic Bulgarians who found a new home in Banat, the disintegration of their homes, the unceasing aspiration toward unity, and the heart-wrenching contradictions lurking beneath its surface. The search for dialogue forms the basis of the next lecture, titled “Poetry Written by Women in Bulgarian Literature from Banat.” The participation of poet Maria Muntean expanded the scope of the discussion to include contemporary issues.

On 21 February 2026, the veterans of the “PG 33” Foundation once again sought to attract followers by presenting their visions regarding the role of civic initiatives in the development of the town of Dudeștii Vechi.

The discussion returned to the topic of language with a presentation by artist Ivan Vasilchin, a member of the “PG 33” group who possesses the most extensive knowledge of the Bulgarian language among all participants. On 28 February 2026, he presented his journey toward the language and Bulgaria, which is shaped by art. For the first time, as a result of these meetings, a text appeared (Return to the Roots), written by the author in literary Bulgarian and published on the website of the Association of Bulgarians from Banat in Bulgaria – Falmis.”

The ninth meeting took place on March 7, 2026, when, at the “Karol Telbizov” Cultural Center, in an atmosphere of shared stories, the group revisited the books that shape the community’s sense of identity. The first baptism was recorded in the parish register of Dudeștii Vechi 288 years ago, and this day is considered the starting point for counting the years in the new settlement. For a long time, this original date, written in the hand of the priest at the time, was interpreted as 3 March 1738, not without a subconscious desire to align it with the date on which Bulgaria celebrates its Liberation. In-depth research by historian Constantin Calciov in the diocese’s archives shifted the event a few days later—on 7 March 1738, the first child was baptized in Dudeștii Vechi. During the meeting, the discussion on the history and presence of the community in Banat included letters from the period of World War II, personal recollections, minutes from the fire department, as well as an exhibition of archival photographs. The group gradually broadened the scope of the discussion about the community, focusing increasingly on personal stories and the archives of other institutions and individual families, not just those of the church.

The only participant from Vinga is Gabriel Cociuba, who, on 14 March 2026, presented his essay “Captive of Beauty (Representations of the Hidden Side of the Church in Vinga)” (“Plènnik na hubusta (lzobrazevanj na vatrèšnata starna na vingànskata čarkva)”). An artist who spent his entire working life on the opposite end of Romania but who, after retiring, returned to his birthplace and began writing books to preserve the language he had learned from his grandmother.

The most recent meeting to date is the eleventh, taking place on 21 March 2026, and it brings the discussion back to traditional costumes and folk customs through the presentation and storytelling of Eli Boboiciov, one of the women actively involved in the culinary group “Prikazćite ud prusta” (Stories from the Kitchen) at the “Yaku Ronkov” Cultural Center in Star Beșenov.

Projects at the West University of Timișoara

The West University fully supports the work of the Bulgarian language lecturer, and the Bulgarian language is gradually finding its rightful place. The “Ambassadors in Dialogue@UVT” project features ambassadors from the countries whose languages are studied at the university. Thus, on the occasion of the celebration of 24 May—recognized as Bulgarian Language Day in Romania—on 22 May 2026 Ambassador Radko Vlaykov paid a visit at the invitation of the dean of the Faculty of Literature, History, Philosophy, and Theology (FLIFT) at the West University of Timișoara. The Bulgarian language courses in Banat brought together Gheorghi Nacov, a member of the Romanian Parliament representing the country’s Bulgarian communities; Bono Cucalan, mayor of Dudești Vechi; Petru Topciov, principal of the school in Dudești Vechi; community representatives; and students. Ambassador Radko Vlaykov’s lecture began with a minute of silence in memory of Dr. Grigor Grigorov, the former Bulgarian language instructor in Timișoara.

On 27 May 2026 as part of the first edition of the “Poetry Ride: May on the Tram” project, the Bulgarian language found its place through the poems of Ivan Vazov and Dimcho Debelyanov. Students from the Faculty of Philology made their first attempts at translation, and the top student in the Bulgarian language course, Dorian Erina, had the courage to attempt translating Bulgarian poetry even though she is not a poet. The goal is for students to view the foreign language they are studying from a different perspective, but also to see poetry as an opportunity to connect with the community through multilingual recitals on public transportation. The event is part of the “Culture Marathon”—a series of initiatives through which FLIFT is celebrating its 70th anniversary and bringing literature to the city’s public spaces.

The strategy of ensuring that the learning process is not limited to the classroom is characteristic of the West University of Timișoara, and we put it into practice in the department’s activities. Organizing meetings with guest speakers from Bulgaria, an internal chess tournament, and mixed outdoor classes in the city park to help the two groups get to know each other and attract new members—the goal is to break the routine of language learning and bring us closer to using the language in a real-world context. The scholarships awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science are a particularly important incentive for motivating both students and community learners. This summer, three people will travel to participate in the summer seminars in Sofia and Veliko Tarnovo, with the hope that next year we will have even better-prepared participants.

The Department of Bulgarian Language in Timișoara is an interesting place to work, with its own advantages. It certainly promises the conditions for intense and fruitful work over the years. The presence of Bulgarian culture in the life of the region, the preservation of the Bulgarian language in Banat through closer ties to standard Bulgarian, and better communication with Bulgaria are among the objectives underpinning these efforts.

Let us look forward to a new academic year that is even richer in people, events, and successes!

Photo: Svetlana Karadjova at the “Karol Telbizov” Cultural Center in Star Bešenov (source: Svetlana Karadjova)

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