Abagar
Encyclopedia
Abagar is a breviary
by the Bulgarian Roman Catholic
Bishop of Nikopol
Filip Stanislavov printed in Rome
in 1651. It is regarded as the first printed Bulgaria
n book. The language of the breviary is a specific blend of modern Bulgarian
and Church Slavonic(Old Bulgarian) with Serbo-Croatian
influences, that was used in writing by the Catholics from Chiprovtsi
, Bulgaria, in the period. Unlike many other works of the Bulgarian Roman Catholics, it was printed in Cyrillic and not Latin
.
The book is named after the apocryphal message of King Abgar
to Jesus
that was included. A total of six copies of the book are preserved, only one of which in Bulgaria, housed in the SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library
in Sofia
. The first phototype issue of the book was published in 1905 by the Russia
n Kuzinsky. The first Bulgarian one followed in 1926 by Vasil Pundev and the one by Bozhidar Raykov was printed in 1979. It was not until 2001 that an edition translated to standard modern Bulgarian (by Kiril Kabakchiev) was published.
Breviary
A breviary is a liturgical book of the Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church containing the public or canonical prayers, hymns, the Psalms, readings, and notations for everyday use, especially by bishops, priests, and deacons in the Divine Office...
by the Bulgarian Roman Catholic
Roman Catholicism in Bulgaria
Roman Catholicism is the third largest religious congregation in Bulgaria, after Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam. It has roots in the country since the Middle Ages and is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.As an entity, the Catholic...
Bishop of Nikopol
Nikopol, Bulgaria
Nikopol is a town in northern Bulgaria, the administrative center of Nikopol municipality, part of Pleven Province, on the right bank of the Danube river, 4 km downstream from the mouth of the Osam river. It spreads at the foot of steep chalk cliffs along the Danube and up a narrow valley...
Filip Stanislavov printed in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1651. It is regarded as the first printed Bulgaria
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...
n book. The language of the breviary is a specific blend of modern Bulgarian
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
and Church Slavonic(Old Bulgarian) with Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
influences, that was used in writing by the Catholics from Chiprovtsi
Chiprovtsi
Chiprovtsi is a small town and municipality in northwestern Bulgaria, administratively part of Montana Province. It lies on the shores of the river Ogosta in the western Balkan Mountains, very close to the Bulgarian-Serbian border...
, Bulgaria, in the period. Unlike many other works of the Bulgarian Roman Catholics, it was printed in Cyrillic and not Latin
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
.
The book is named after the apocryphal message of King Abgar
Abgar V of Edessa
Abgar V the black or Abgarus V of Edessa BC - AD 7 and AD 13 - 50) was a historical Syriac ruler of the Syriac kingdom of Osroene, holding his capital at Edessa....
to Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
that was included. A total of six copies of the book are preserved, only one of which in Bulgaria, housed in the SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library
SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library
The SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library is the national library of Bulgaria, situated in the capital city of Sofia...
in 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...
. The first phototype issue of the book was published in 1905 by the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Kuzinsky. The first Bulgarian one followed in 1926 by Vasil Pundev and the one by Bozhidar Raykov was printed in 1979. It was not until 2001 that an edition translated to standard modern Bulgarian (by Kiril Kabakchiev) was published.