Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. The first 125 years

The beginnings of Sofia University may be traced back to the year 1888, ten years after the end of the Russian-Turkish War, which had begun in 1877, and which resulted in a recreated Bulgarian state re-emerging on the map of Europe. The state was small in territory, as well as in population. The capital, Sofia, numbered not more than 20,000 inhabitants. However, in this semi-oriental city, a Higher Pedagogical Course was started in 1888, and it was this that later grew into a modern higher education institution. The subsequent founding of the University was a single act, but behind it stood ages of history.

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Table of Contents

BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY. Ivan Ilchev

Education in medieval Bulgaria

"The Dark Ages"?

Looking towards Europe

The new beginning

Problems of education

Dreams and reality

Period of crisis

THE EARLY YEARS (1888-1912). Ivan Ilchev

The beginning

The new Seven Saints

The first university lecturers

First challenges and hopeful development

First thoughts about autonomy

The first university teachers - career and self-fulfilment

The University and public struggles

The crisis of 1907

Brief calm before the storm

The donation

Women at the University

The place of the University in Bulgarian science

THE UNIVERSITY IN WAR AND PEACE (1912-1944). Valery Kolev

The trials and tribulations of the wars of national unification (1912-1918)

The hardships of reconstruction (1918-1925)

Years of peaceful progress (1926-1934)

Under the authoritarian regime (1934-1939)

Time for feasting - the Jubilee Festival

The great day of the University

The honorary Doctors of the University

The gala reception at the Aula Magna

Meeting Bulgaria and the Bulgarians

The new World War

THE UNIVERSITY UNDER "REAL SOCIALISM" (1944-1989). Evgenia Kalinova

The University in the years of transition (1944-1947)

The University in Stalinist uniform

Sofia University and political change after 1956

Sofia University in the 1960s

The University under "developed socialism" (1971-1989)

Integration of the University of Sofia with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

The University of Sofia in the years of crisis of socialism

THE UNIVERSITY IN THE YEARS OF DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION (1989-2013). Iskra Baeva

The role of the University of Sofia in the political transition

The 110-year old University of Sofia

Sofia University in years of crisis (2008-2013)

Tzveta Todorova is author of the texts on the history of University buildings, rituals, memorabilia, anniversaries and so forth