The Legend of the Baptism of Knyaz Boris I at the Stara Zagora Holy Spring of St. Theodore Tiron – Myth or Reality

Authors:

Pages: 58-77
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/IWUN6769

Abstract:

The article provides a brief overview of the data and hypotheses about the place and year of baptism of the Bulgarian ruler Prince Boris I Michael. The widespread opinion about Pliska as a possible place of baptism of the Prince contradicts the data that the baptism took place on Byzantine territory near Upper Thrace, where the military actions were conducted in the late autumn of 863. Main attention is paid to the so called Stara Zagora hypothesis, which indicates the Holy spring of St. Theodore Tiron near the modern city of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, and its patron’s day as the place and date for the Prince’s baptism. This hypothesis was put forwards independently by two authors at the end of the 19th century, in addition, there are similar older legends that have left traces in local toponymy and oronymy. In support of the Stara Zagora hypothesis and the local legends, the emergence of a medieval monastic settlement in the Stara Zagora region can be pointed out. The settlement comprised more than 20 monasteries, which existed until the 18th century. The main advantage of the Stara Zagora hypothesis and the local legends is that they are in concert with the recently accepted opinion that the Prince was baptized in the early months of 864. A second advantage is that they offer a scientific explanation for the well known fact of the Prince’s baptism “at night“ and in the narrow circle of his retinue. A third advantage is that they are in line with the recently discovered date of March 28 (864) when the revolt of the metropolitan boyars broke out. These advantages, indicated recently in separate books by the authors, force Bulgarian historiography to re-evaluate the reliability of the Stara Zagora hypothesis and legend, which was disregard for political reasons during the years of the totalitarian regime in Bulgaria.

Keywords:

Tsar Boris I Michael, baptism of the Bulgarians, the Holy spring of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, St. Theodore Tyron.

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