A Moderator of the New Bulgarian Culture and Education

The study is about the national role of Neofit Rilski in the development of the New Bulgarian culture and education in the first half of the 19th century. A taxidiot, preacher, scholar, scribe, teacher – everywhere with his wise vision Father Neofit enlightened the Bulgarians to the ideals of the New Time; he convinced them that with knowledge and morality there were also opportunities for them to be happy in the civilized world. The position of the scribe-teacher Neofit as a subjective factor in the processes of modelling the social basis for the social progress of the Bulgarian population is analysed from a contemporary cultural aspect. The influence of his bright personality on the growth of the Renaissance intellectuals-patriots and on the training of the first professional teachers of the nation in Gabrovo and Koprivshtitsa is commented. As a result, it is proved that Neofit Rilski was the useful democrat-evolutionist of the native Renaissance and the real cultural centre of the Bulgarian enlightenment-revolutionary movement for the liberation of the Fatherland.