Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov-Dzhinot
Encyclopedia
Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov, called Dzhinot (the Genie
) , was a Bulgaria
n teacher
, publicist
and an important figure of the Bulgarian National Revival
during 19-th century. Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov devoted all his life to the cause of secular public education, and he actively promoted the idea of enforcement of spoken Bulgarian language in the schools and applying of modern pedagogical practices.
He was born around 1818 in Veles
, Ottoman empire
(today in Republic of Macedonia
). Yordan completed his basic education in a local church school
at Veles
and next he attended the high schools at Thesalonika and Samokov
. In 1840 he started to teach as a private teacher, and in 1845 he was appointed a teacher in a municipal school
at Veles. There Yordan involved in a conflict with the Greek clergy and he was forced to leave the town. In 1848 he settled in Skopie, where he worked as a teacher in the Bulgarian school. There Yordan applied modern pedagogical methods in his practice. Meanwhile he published some patriotic articles in the Bulgarian newspaper "Tsarigradski vestnik". In January 1857 Yordan was dismissed from the service under the pressure of the Greek metropolitan bishop
of Scopie. The same year the local Turkish
authorities had Yordan exiled from Skopie, where he never backed again.
In 1861, when the Grand Vizier
of the Empire visited Veles, Benedictus, bishop of Veles, acaused Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov of spying and conspiracy with the Serbians
and the Bulgarian leader Georgi Rakovski, whose prohibited in Turkey
books and newspapers Yordan had kept in his private library. The Grand Vizier
believed the allegations and had Yordan exiled in Aydın
, (Asia Minor
). On the way to Aydin Yourdan lost one of his eyes, couse he was called "The Genie
" (Джинот, Dzhinot). He returned from exile in 1863 and devoted all of his time to the education.
Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov-Dzhinot died in Veles on 22 August 1882.
) in Belgrade
and he published some of his discoveries on the pages of Glasnik magazine (an official tribune of the society). On 24 January 1854 Yordan send from Skopie a manuscript
copy
of а medieval Bulgarian record, called "A naration about the restoration of the Bulgarian Patriarchate in 1235", which was discovered at first by Dzhinot and was published in Glasnik magazine in 1855. Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov-Dzhinot found a manuscript of a Bulgarian medieval story "An oration of Saint Cyryl, how he baptized the Bulgarian people", called "Solunska legenda" ("A legend from Thesalonika"). It was published in Glasnik magazine in 1856.
Yordan Hadzhikonsatntinov was author of some patriotic articles in the Bulgarian Tsarigradski Vestnik ("Istanbul newspaper"), as "God" (published in 1851), "Bulgarian literature" (1852), "About the Church Slavonic language" (1852), "Veles" (1857), "Prilep" (1854) etc.
They contain information about the history and geography of the Macedonian
region, and also some information about the history of the Bulgarian people, Bulgarian education and the Bulgarian Church in Macedonia. Being a real Bulgarian patriot, Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov-Dzhinot thought, that Bulgarians
are descedants of the ancient Thracians
and Illyrians
. In his publications Yordan lost no occasion to declare his Bulgarian ethnic identity:"...I am Bulgarian, and I bewail our lost Bulgarians, who are in Lower Moesia
, and it is our duty to lay down our life for our brothers, the dearest Bulgarians."
, Yoardan Hadzhikonstantinov-Dzhinot had Macedonian identity
and "he dedicated four decades of his life to promoting education in the Macedonian language
", so he had an important role for Macedonian National Revival and for establishment of a Macedonian literary language. The Yordan's articles, where he pointed that he is Bulgarian, refute these Macedonian assertions.
Genie
Jinn or genies are supernatural creatures in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings that occupy a parallel world to that of mankind. Together, jinn, humans and angels make up the three sentient creations of Allah. Religious sources say barely anything about them; however, the Qur'an mentions that...
) , was a 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 teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
and an important figure of the Bulgarian National Revival
Bulgarian National Revival
The Bulgarian National Revival , sometimes called the Bulgarian Renaissance, was a period of socio-economic development and national integration among Bulgarian people under Ottoman rule...
during 19-th century. Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov devoted all his life to the cause of secular public education, and he actively promoted the idea of enforcement of spoken Bulgarian language in the schools and applying of modern pedagogical practices.
He was born around 1818 in Veles
Veles (city)
Veles is a city in the center of the Republic of Macedonia on the Vardar river. The city of Veles is the seat of Veles Municipality.-Name:The city's name was Vylosa in Ancient Greek and before the Balkan Wars, it was a township with the name Köprülü in the Üsküp sandjak, Ottoman empire for 600...
, Ottoman empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
(today in Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
). Yordan completed his basic education in a local church school
Church school
A church school is a place of education, the precise nature of which varies from one national jurisdiction to another.The State of Alabama defines a church school as follows:...
at Veles
Veles (city)
Veles is a city in the center of the Republic of Macedonia on the Vardar river. The city of Veles is the seat of Veles Municipality.-Name:The city's name was Vylosa in Ancient Greek and before the Balkan Wars, it was a township with the name Köprülü in the Üsküp sandjak, Ottoman empire for 600...
and next he attended the high schools at Thesalonika and Samokov
Samokov
Samokov is a town in Sofia Province in the southwest of Bulgaria. It is situated in a kettle between the mountains Rila and Vitosha, 55 kilometres from the capital Sofia...
. In 1840 he started to teach as a private teacher, and in 1845 he was appointed a teacher in a municipal school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
at Veles. There Yordan involved in a conflict with the Greek clergy and he was forced to leave the town. In 1848 he settled in Skopie, where he worked as a teacher in the Bulgarian school. There Yordan applied modern pedagogical methods in his practice. Meanwhile he published some patriotic articles in the Bulgarian newspaper "Tsarigradski vestnik". In January 1857 Yordan was dismissed from the service under the pressure of the Greek metropolitan bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Scopie. The same year the local Turkish
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
authorities had Yordan exiled from Skopie, where he never backed again.
In 1861, when the Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
of the Empire visited Veles, Benedictus, bishop of Veles, acaused Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov of spying and conspiracy with the Serbians
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
and the Bulgarian leader Georgi Rakovski, whose prohibited in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
books and newspapers Yordan had kept in his private library. The Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
believed the allegations and had Yordan exiled in Aydın
Aydin
Aydın is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast...
, (Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
). On the way to Aydin Yourdan lost one of his eyes, couse he was called "The Genie
Genie
Jinn or genies are supernatural creatures in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings that occupy a parallel world to that of mankind. Together, jinn, humans and angels make up the three sentient creations of Allah. Religious sources say barely anything about them; however, the Qur'an mentions that...
" (Джинот, Dzhinot). He returned from exile in 1863 and devoted all of his time to the education.
Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov-Dzhinot died in Veles on 22 August 1882.
Works
Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov was in touch with The Society of the Serbian Letters (Serbian Academy of Sciences and ArtsSerbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most prominent academic institution in Serbia today...
) in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
and he published some of his discoveries on the pages of Glasnik magazine (an official tribune of the society). On 24 January 1854 Yordan send from Skopie a manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
copy
Facsimile
A facsimile is a copy or reproduction of an old book, manuscript, map, art print, or other item of historical value that is as true to the original source as possible. It differs from other forms of reproduction by attempting to replicate the source as accurately as possible in terms of scale,...
of а medieval Bulgarian record, called "A naration about the restoration of the Bulgarian Patriarchate in 1235", which was discovered at first by Dzhinot and was published in Glasnik magazine in 1855. Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov-Dzhinot found a manuscript of a Bulgarian medieval story "An oration of Saint Cyryl, how he baptized the Bulgarian people", called "Solunska legenda" ("A legend from Thesalonika"). It was published in Glasnik magazine in 1856.
Yordan Hadzhikonsatntinov was author of some patriotic articles in the Bulgarian Tsarigradski Vestnik ("Istanbul newspaper"), as "God" (published in 1851), "Bulgarian literature" (1852), "About the Church Slavonic language" (1852), "Veles" (1857), "Prilep" (1854) etc.
They contain information about the history and geography of the Macedonian
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
region, and also some information about the history of the Bulgarian people, Bulgarian education and the Bulgarian Church in Macedonia. Being a real Bulgarian patriot, Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov-Dzhinot thought, that Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
are descedants of the ancient Thracians
Thracians
The ancient Thracians were a group of Indo-European tribes inhabiting areas including Thrace in Southeastern Europe. They spoke the Thracian language – a scarcely attested branch of the Indo-European language family...
and Illyrians
Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
. In his publications Yordan lost no occasion to declare his Bulgarian ethnic identity:"...I am Bulgarian, and I bewail our lost Bulgarians, who are in Lower Moesia
Moesia
Moesia was an ancient region and later Roman province situated in the Balkans, along the south bank of the Danube River. It included territories of modern-day Southern Serbia , Northern Republic of Macedonia, Northern Bulgaria, Romanian Dobrudja, Southern Moldova, and Budjak .-History:In ancient...
, and it is our duty to lay down our life for our brothers, the dearest Bulgarians."
Macedonian point of view
According to the Macedonian view, now prevalent and official in the books in Republic of MacedoniaRepublic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, Yoardan Hadzhikonstantinov-Dzhinot had Macedonian identity
Macedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
and "he dedicated four decades of his life to promoting education in the Macedonian language
Macedonian language
Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
", so he had an important role for Macedonian National Revival and for establishment of a Macedonian literary language. The Yordan's articles, where he pointed that he is Bulgarian, refute these Macedonian assertions.
Primary sources
- Iордан Хаџи Констандинов. О основанию Блъгарског Патрияршества, Гласник Друштва србске словестности, VII (Београд, 1855), с. 174-177.
- Iордан Хаџи Констандинов. Слово Кирила славенца солунскаго философа бугарскаго, Гласник Друштва србске словестности, VIII (Београд, 1856), с. 146-147.
- Йордан Хаджиконстантинов-Джинот. Българин съм. Предг., съст. и ред. И. Радев. Велико Търново: Абагар, 1993.
External lincs
Йордан Хаджиконстантинов-Джинот. Българин съм. Предг., съст. и ред. И. Радев. Велико Търново, 1993.. Georgiev, Emil. Люлка на старата и новата българска писменост.- Кънчов, В. Избрани произведения. Т. II. София, 1970. Тъпкова-Заимова, В.; Милтенова, А. (1996). Историко-апокалиптичната книжнина във Византия и в средновековна България. София: Университетско изсдателство "Св. Климент Охридски". 311-321. ISBN 954-07-0766-8. Джинот - кратки биографични бележки и факсимилета от дописки