A photographic survey has revealed dozens of Bulgarian inscriptions in Greek Orthodox monasteries in the Old City of Jerusalem, according to a study published in volume 15 of the journal "Antikot". 

"The inscriptions were found on the walls of Greek Orthodox monasteries in the Old City of Jerusalem and its surroundings, dating back to the Ottoman period," explained researchers Michael Chernin and Shai Halevi of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The project used multispectral and RTI imaging to reveal the faded markings.

"The corpus of graffiti allows us to reconstruct the history of Eastern Christianity in Jerusalem during the Ottoman period," the authors write, focusing in particular on tracing "Bulgarian pilgrimage to Jerusalem during the 500 years of Ottoman rule." 

The study documented inscriptions at three main sites: the Monastery of St. Theodore, the Monastery of the Forerunner (John Prodromos), and the Monastery of St. Charalambos.

At the monastery of St. Theodore, one of the inscriptions reads. Year 1776" - identifying the town of Kotel, Bulgaria. The authors note the importance of Kotel: "The economic prosperity of the settlement led to the emergence of many wealthy inhabitants." In the 17th century, Kotel became the centre of the textile industry.

Another text reads. Hadzhi Jovancho. Hadzhi Ivan(?). Hadzhi Filip. From (Ga)bravo. 1794". Gabrovo is described as "one of the important centres of the Bulgarian Revival".   

Another inscription says: "Hadzhi Nikola. Hadzhi Lasko. Hadzhi Valkan. Hadzhi Velyo. From Razlog." "We believe that this pilgrim can be identified with Hadzhi Valcho - a famous figure in Bulgarian history of the 18th century." 

The study also identifies trade symbols, with the authors explaining that "such symbols are known from tombstones and seals of Bulgarian merchants who carried out trade activities in Buda, Vienna and Novi Sad (Serbia)."

In the monastery "Predtecha" the inscriptions include. 1842 from Kamenica. From (the monastery of) "St. George" in Belashtitsa. Another reads: 'Hadzhi Michael priest from Istanbul'. The researchers explain that "a large community of Bulgarians lived in Istanbul throughout the Ottoman period."

In the monastery of St. Haralambos, a detailed inscription from 1874 lists pilgrims from Stara Zagora and Oryahovo, among whom are "Hadzhi Todor Koyuv and his children: Hadzhi Giorgi (and) Hadzhi Maria". Another inscription from 1881 reads "Hadzhi Atanas from the village of Negovan" - a settlement "considered one of the centres of Bulgarian nationalism in Macedonia". 

The study highlights the Bulgarian presence not only in the monasteries but also in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. A remarkable inscription from 1854 reads: 'Netko from Koprivshtitsa'. The authors note that 'Koprivshtitsa enjoyed a special status: its inhabitants were exempt from taxes and Muslims were forbidden to live there'.

In an inscription from 1780, seven pilgrims from Svishtov are listed in the Abram's Holy Monastery, among them "Haji Stoyan, son of Haji Petko, Haji Ivan and Haji Manchu (sons) of Haji Angel from Svishtov".

"The mass pilgrimage of the town's inhabitants to the Holy Land continued in the first half of the twentieth century, during the British Mandate in Palestine," the authors note.

The full text of the study is published in volume 116 of Atticote and provides a rare glimpse into the centuries-long spiritual journey of Bulgarian Christians to Jerusalem. | BGNES