академия

On October 7, this year, the Scientific Council at the Institute of Literature discussed the work of Acad. Mihail Arnaudov "From the History of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The Bulgarian Literary Society in Braila (1869-1876)". In their reviews, Assoc. Prof. Georgi Dimov and Nikolay Todorov give an affirmative assessment of the work, indicating in detail its merits and at the same time making some recommendations for its improvement. In his review, Georgi Dimov emphasizes the task that the author of the work set himself - to study the long-term process of maturing the idea of ​​organizing a scientific center, as a result of which the Literary Society in Braila was created. The work traces the activity of this cultural center for a certain period - until 1876, when it practically ceased to exist, and its activity was resumed after the Liberation under different socio-historical and cultural conditions. On a very broad scale and using rich factual material, Acad. M. Arnaudov focuses on the efforts of the Bulgarians for an independent educational and scientific-cultural life since the beginning of the 19th century, and in this way the exposition in many places turns into a history of the development of spiritual life in general during the Revival. The author's broad erudition has allowed him to build his study on a comparative-historical basis - he acquaints the reader with similar phenomena in neighboring and more distant countries, which could serve as an example for our Revival figures. An expert on that era, the author freely handles historical sources, presents materials of various nature, drawn from the periodical press, from correspondence, from general and literary works or from previous research. Thus, the reader has the opportunity to see how the idea of ​​organizing special societies or centers with the task of working for the advancement of Bulgarian enlightenment, education, culture, etc. is taken up by one or another figure, what content is put into it, in what specific form they want to carry out their patriotic undertakings. The author examines cultural and educational phenomena against the background of social reality. The difficulties that accompany the realization of this work are thoroughly presented. True thoughts are also expressed about the struggle between the two trends in emigration.

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences occupies a paramount place in the cultural life of our country. Its membership includes the most prominent representatives of Bulgarian science, it has organized scientific institutes in all fields of modern knowledge, its members and associates participate not only in the most important research within the country, but also in scientific life abroad, numerous international congresses, conferences, symposia, etc. To this must be added the enormous publishing activity that the academy carries out; this activity began with its very beginnings - as the Bulgarian Literary Society in Braila, founded in 1869, but the dimensions to which it has reached today represent an exceptional phenomenon in the history of Bulgarian science and culture. We do not always appreciate this fact enough. If we go back to the years when the foundations of the future Bulgarian Academy of Sciences were laid, we cannot fail to note one important circumstance: it is a product of the Bulgarian national revival. Its creation is not the result of a decree issued by a single authority, but of a long process, expressed in numerous reflections and proposals, in various projects and actions. The idea of ​​a Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was born in the great aspiration of our people towards enlightenment and cultural progress: already during the Renaissance era, it should embody the enlightened ideals of the people and also give a strong impetus to their cultural development. In this respect, our country repeats the history of academies in Europe - they arose in the 15th century, in the era of the Italian Renaissance ("Platonic Academy" in Florence, "Accademia Antiquaria" in Rome, etc.).