Chernichevo, Kardzhali Province
Encyclopedia
Chernichevo 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). The correct geographical location of Chernichevo is 41° 21' N, 25° 47' E.
s. 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.
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
.
Later, in mid 14th century, the region was attacked by the 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.
. A few of the village's neighborhoods were inhabited by Muslims, and a few neighborhoods by Christians, both speaking a Bulgarian dialect. In 1848 the Christian community built an Orthodox
church called "St. Atanasios" . At the end of 19th century the Bulgarians - Christians in Chernichevo established a secret section of Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization.
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. 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.
.
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.
are traditionally used instruments in Chernichevo. The local music belongs to the Rhodopi folklore region.
and Sunni Islam
.
, Kardzhali
, Haskovo
and Plovdiv
. Many Chernichevians moved to the state's capital Sofia
.
group.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, located in the municipality of Krumovgrad
Krumovgrad
Krumovgrad is a town in Kardzhali Province in the very south of Bulgaria, located in the Eastern Rhodopes on the banks of the river Krumovitsa. The majority of its population consists of ethnic Turks...
in the Kardzhali Province
Kardzhali Province
Kardzhali Province is a province of southern Bulgaria, neighbouring Greece with the Greek prefectures of Xanthi, Rhodope and Evros to the south and east. Kardzhali Province area is 3209.1 km². Its main city is Kardzhali.-History:...
. It is situated in the Eastern part of Rhodope Mountains
Rhodope Mountains
The Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over 83% of its area in southern Bulgaria and the remainder in Greece. Its highest peak, Golyam Perelik , is the seventh highest Bulgarian mountain...
, near the border with Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Its original Bulgarian name is "Dunyata" (Bulgarian: Дунята). The correct geographical location of Chernichevo is 41° 21' N, 25° 47' E.
Ancient times and Middle Ages
Chernichevo is located in a region with an ancient history and rich past. Near the settlement there are seven ThraciandolmenDolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
s. 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.
During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the Rhodopes were a battlefield of many wars between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Bulgarian Empire
Bulgarian Empire
Bulgarian Empire is a term used to describe two periods in the medieval history of Bulgaria, during which it acted as a key regional power in Europe in general and in Southeastern Europe in particular, rivalling Byzantium...
for influence in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. 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
Boniface of Montferrat
Boniface of Montferrat was Marquess of Montferrat and the leader of the Fourth Crusade. He was the third son of William V of Montferrat and Judith of Babenberg, born after his father's return from the Second Crusade...
who was the king of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
.
Later, in mid 14th century, the region was attacked by the 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
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, destroyed probably during the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
invasion.
Ottoman rule and strife for liberation
During the Ottoman rule, a part of the population of Chernichevo adopted IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. A few of the village's neighborhoods were inhabited by Muslims, and a few neighborhoods by Christians, both speaking a Bulgarian dialect. In 1848 the Christian community built an Orthodox
Orthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
church called "St. Atanasios" . At the end of 19th century the Bulgarians - Christians in Chernichevo established a secret section of Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization.
During the Balkan Wars the village suffered from ethnic and religious tensions. According to Bulgarian academician Lyubomir Miletich
Lyubomir Miletich
Lyubomir Miletich was a leading Bulgarian linguist, ethnographer, dialectologist and historian, as well as the chairman of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences from 1926 to his death....
's book The Destruction of Thracian Bulgarians in 1913
The Destruction of Thracian Bulgarians in 1913
"The Destruction of Thracian Bulgarians in 1913" were events described by Bulgarian academician Lyubomir Miletich in 1918, but also mentioned by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace with also a detailed report on the annihilation of Thracian Muslims...
, in the summer and the autumn of 1913 nearly 100 Christian residents of Chernichevo were killed by the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
volunteers from the unrecognized Provisional Government of Western Thrace. 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
Soldiers from Chernichevo participated in the Bulgarian army during the World wars, defending their country. Three soldiers died in the Battle of the River ChernaBattle of the River Cherna
The Battle of the Cerna Bend , also referred to as the Battle of the Cerna Loop, was a two month long battle between the Bulgarian and Entente armies. The battle took place in the Macedonian Front during the First World War Allied Monastir Offensive in October and November 1916...
.
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.
Music and musical instruments
The bagpipe and the kavalKaval
The kaval is a chromatic end-blown flute traditionally played throughout Azerbaijan, Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, southern Serbia , northern Greece , Romania , and Armenia...
are traditionally used instruments in Chernichevo. The local music belongs to the Rhodopi folklore region.
Religion
In Chernichevo cohabit Bulgarian-speaking people, professing Orthodox ChristianityOrthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
and Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
.
Chernichevo today
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
On March 20, 2010, an initiative committee restored the activity of the village's community center "Byalo more 1929" .Chernichevian diaspora
The term Chernichevian diaspora refers to the population who left Chernichevo and its descendants. Chernichevo has a large presence in towns like KrumovgradKrumovgrad
Krumovgrad is a town in Kardzhali Province in the very south of Bulgaria, located in the Eastern Rhodopes on the banks of the river Krumovitsa. The majority of its population consists of ethnic Turks...
, Kardzhali
Kardzhali
Kardzhali or Kurdzhali is a town in Bulgaria, capital of Kardzhali Province in the Eastern Rhodopes. Near the town is the noted Kardzhali Dam.-Geography:...
, Haskovo
Haskovo
Haskovo , is a city, an administrative centre of the homonymous Haskovo Province in southern Bulgaria, not far from the borders with Greece and Turkey. As of February 2011, it has a population of 74,843 inhabitants....
and Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
. Many Chernichevians moved to the state's capital Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
.
Chernichevian communities
Chernichevian diaspora maintains a blog about the local history and a FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
group.
Notable Chernichevians
Krasimir 'Krasi' Moskov (born 19 July 1979) is a talk show host in the popular Bulgarian radio Z-Rock, currently lives in Sofia.External links
- Images from Chernichevo with high resolution
- Chernichevo (in Bulgarian)