February 23 connects two very different stories from Bulgaria’s history — one about institutional self-organization in the nineteenth century, another about a dramatic international kidnapping that drew the world’s attention to the Macedonian question.
February 23, 1871 — The First Convention of Bulgarian Clergy and Laity Opens
The Orthodox Church opened the first Convention of Bulgarian Clergy and Laity in Constantinople. The convention was part of the process of organizing the Bulgarian Exarchate and defining church administration after the Ottoman decree of 1870. Clergy and lay representatives discussed how Bulgarian communities would manage education, dioceses, worship, and public authority inside the empire.
The involvement of laypeople reflected the civic energy of the National Revival, when merchants, teachers, guilds, and local activists all helped build institutions. The convention showed that Bulgarian church autonomy was becoming a practical structure, not only a political demand — part of the broader preparation for national liberation.
February 23, 1902 — Ellen Stone and Katerina Tsilka Are Released
American missionary Ellen Stone and Bulgarian fellow missionary Katerina Tsilka were released after being abducted in 1901 by members of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization. The kidnappers, including Yane Sandanski and Hristo Chernopeev, demanded a large ransom to support revolutionary activity in Macedonia and Thrace. The case became internationally famous, drawing attention to the Macedonian question and to the methods used by revolutionary groups seeking funds and visibility.
The release ended the immediate crisis, but the episode placed Bulgarian and American public opinion inside a complicated story of nationalism, violence, diplomacy, and humanitarian concern — and it remains a dramatic moment in the history of liberation movements beyond Bulgaria’s borders.
Continue through the series with February 22 and February 24. Explore Bulgaria From Above and our guides to Bulgaria.
