January 15 connects two important parts of Bulgaria’s cultural history. In 1879, Sofia Public Library opened to readers. In 1895, the poet Geo Milev was born.
January 15, 1879 — Sofia Public Library
Sofia Public Library was established in December 1878 and opened to readers on January 15, 1879. It is now the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius.”
Its opening came soon after Bulgaria’s Liberation, when the new state was creating its cultural and educational institutions. The library was more than a place for storing books. It gave readers access to knowledge and helped shape Sofia’s public cultural life.
January 15, 1895 — Geo Milev is born
Geo Milev was born in Radnevo on January 15, 1895. A poet, translator, literary critic and editor, he is best known for Septemvri, written after the September Uprising of 1923.
In 1925, Geo Milev was arrested and disappeared after being summoned by the authorities. His remains were identified decades later. His biography brings together literary talent, public engagement and the fate of a person caught in the repressive atmosphere of the period.
On the same date, a library opened its doors to readers while a future poet was born — two strands of Bulgaria’s cultural history that continue to be remembered.
The library and Geo Milev belong to the history of knowledge and culture. One brought books and readers together, while the other used literature as a way to engage with society and its conflicts.
Follow the previous day — January 14, the next day — January 16 or browse the Bulgaria From Above category.
