If there are still any skeptics that today's Bulgaria in the global world could be recognized faster through its spirituality, let them be informed about what's happening in the Bulgarian Cultural Center (Espace Culturel Bulgare) in Paris, since its opening in the spring of 2005. In less than six months this modest place, not far from Champs Elysees, with the support of the Bulgarian government and a group of enthusiasts managed to become an attractive center for everyone who love and cherish the Bulgarian culture in united Europe – regardless of their origin, talent and convictions. The Bulgarian Cultural Center is a true focal point of our national identity in the very heart of Europe, says everyone who has visited it.

It is amazing that in a cosmopolite city like Paris a center of Bulgarian culture, art and literature is building its image by the day.

“There are so many events that people willing to participate can't attend them all – we are speaking of Paris after all,” Mr. Kiril Kadiiski, director of the center, says. “Almost every day something is happening here. At the moment we are presenting part of the collection of the great Belgian patron of arts Hugo Voeten, which comprises works of 30 famous Bulgarian authors. The exhibition is within the Week of Foreign Cultures in Paris, which has over 40 participant countries. Besides, Bulgarian movies are shown here regularly, lectures, discussions and book launches are organized.

“Our first big events were the jubilee exhibition “Bulgaria-France”, dedicated to the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and an evening in the end of February on the occasion of March 3, dedicated to Victor Hugo, who pleaded for the Bulgarian cause.

“Triumphant were also the events during the Week of Cultures, when the Minister of Culture Prof. Stefan Danailov and Mrs. Nina Chilova, Chairperson of the Culture Committee at the National Assembly, were on a visit to Paris. Several French intellectuals showed interest and the former US Ambassador to Bulgaria James Pardew came from Brussels specially for the opening.

“On September 9, there was a poetic evening dedicated to Baudelaire. The program included a reading of verses by the great poet in French and Bulgarian read by Sava Lolov and Anna Tancheva (Association Art en ciel slave). A lecture was delivered by Mrs. Elvira Mauroir, lecturer and doctor of philology, member of the Society of French Poets. Among her latest books are the titles Alchemy of Dreams and The Dark Beauty of Baudelaire.

“On October 2, was held the pre-premiere of the children's play in French We, the Sparrows, based on the homonymous book by the great Bulgarian writer Yordan Radichkov, etc.” Mr. Kadiiski kept listing.

“On October 11 Mrs. Dimitrina Aslanyan (who has registered the association Trimontium, Versailles) delivered a lecture-discussion on Bulgarian monasteries. She is author of the book History of Bulgaria from Antiquity to Our Days, published in French. Mrs. Aslanyan is a biophysicist. In Bulgaria she chaired a department at the Higher Medical Institute in Plovdiv. Since 1967 she has dedicated herself to biophysics. She works at Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. In December 2004 Mrs. Aslanyan received a high recognition for her book: at a special ceremony in Sofia she was decorated with the honorary distinction of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – the “Marin Drinov” plaque.

“The salon is always full, often even overcrowded. We have many requests for events, the schedule is full till next June.”

It seems that the people who want to show the Bulgarian culture and those interested in it have been holding their breath until the moment when they could finally breathe in the fresh air, gushing out from what has been created and what is being created by the hands and the hearts of Bulgarian talents.

The director of the cultural center is in his element here. He is among the best translators of French poetry in Bulgarian and he has published a lot of books in France. “Coming to the center, people do not want to see something staged, but something live, something in which they can participate,” he said. “We are preparing weekly and monthly schedules, we also have topical news on our website. The information immediately appears on the sites of a couple of French-Bulgarian associations and of the Bulgarian Students' Association in Paris.”

Premiere of books by Prof. Boyan Biolchev and Dimitar Tomov at the Bulgarian Cultural Center in Paris

On October 20, this space of the spirit attracted dozens of Bulgarian fiction fans. On the initiative of the publishers from Bulgarian Bestseller – NMBBP were presented the short stories of two of the most prominent Bulgarian belletrists – Boyan Biolchev and Dimitar Tomov. Letters from Heaven by Boyan Biolchev and Quakes of Love by Dimitar Tomov met with their readership in the French capital. The books were translated in French by Prof. Stoyan Alexandrov, who spared no compliments at the launch and drew a rich artistic portrait of the two authors before the Bulgarian-French audience. The actress Daniela Stancheva, who also participated in the translation, read one story by each author and proved that a skillfully written story can captivate you right away and take you to the world of its characters.

The authors Dimitar Tomov and Prof. Boyan Biolchev with the Center Director Kiril Kadiiski

After this successful premiere we, Bulgarian Bestseller – NMBBP, have no doubt that we are on the right track: Bulgarian writers should be translated and presented all over the world, our artists have the power and the talent to measure up to their spiritual counterparts abroad.

In the front: Mr. Georgi Ivanov, Mayor of Haskovo, with his wife Mrs. Daniela Zaharieva, Mrs. Mariana Evstatieva-Biolcheva, H.E. Mrs. Irina Bokova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to the French Republic

The Paris evening of Boyan Biolchev and Dimitar Tomov will be remembered with another thing too – the donation of 201 volumes, with which Bulgarian Bestseller – NMBBP laid the foundations of a public library at the Bulgarian Cultural Center in Paris. We believe that this is a good initiative, because the Holy Scripture says: “In the beginning was the Word.”

Prof. Todor Shopov and the artist Boris Dragolov	Prof. Stoyan Alexandrov	Mrs. Daniela Stancheva

The Haskovo Mayor shows Mr. Kadiiski the beauties of the town