[tied] Re: Yers

> *****GK: There were persecutions of Christians by the
> Proto-Bulgars of Bulgaria. This is well
> documented.****

Yes there were. And one has to see how this combines with the
thought that some of the aristocracy could have been christian,
as it is seen from other sources. I am trying to keep out of it and
give you an idea of what else is said.

>
> When
> > did the wars
> > you mean take place? At the time of Boris?
>
> *****GK: Yes. They were prompted by the resistance of
> a majority of the Proto-Bulgar aristocracy to the
> imposition of Christianity. The last "blow" was also
> delivered by Boris, coming out of retirement in 893 to
> eliminate a neo-Pagan threat supported by his son
> Vladimir. I'm surprised you don't know your own
> history, Eva...******

There are other theories on that as well. In order to be able to
tell you that there are other theories, supposedly, I know about
the first ones as well, so I don't know what you are assuming. I
have read about Boris killing a significant part of the aristocracy
and blinding his own son. Since there is so much debate in my
country lately on the subject, I refrain from taking a stance on the
old version or the new ones as being the last possible. Yet any
theories about a protobulgar "implosion" go very far from what I
have read in history books. This is already further interpretation
on your part and I can't help but naming it exactly so - an
interpretation, accroding to its wording.

>
> Btw, he
> > has never
> > been presented negatively by Bulgarian historians.
>
> *****GK: Why should he? He gave Bulgaria to the Slavs
> (:=)))****

Bulgaria is Bulgaria, we don't look at it as being given to anyone,
even when we speak of our various roots. Your logic sounds a
bit weird to me.

>
> > I am really
> > amused to read all this. So the following Golden
> > Age must have
> > been the death of the Bulgars?
>
> *****GK: Of the Proto-Bulgars, not of the Bulgars (by
> then the label meant the Slavic speakers).*****

It is not quite clear what was meant with what. This is simply
interpretation and I do not see a reason to keep bickering on the
subject.

> > I hear the term Cyrillomethodianism for the first
> > time. Sounds
> > like all other -isms. Do you describe this as a
> > movement of a
> > sort?
>
> *****GK: There is a vast literature on this, Eva. Sts.
> Constantine/Cyril and St. Methodius and their
> disciples.****

You are simply ridiculous, George. The 24th of May is one of the
biggest holidays in Bulgaria - the day of the Slavonic alphabet. I
was christened on that day. You are trying to tell me I have not
heard of Cyrill and Methodius?

I was just discussing the funny terms you use for them and their
mission. It sounds almost like communism to me and not
applicable to the events in question (the creation of the alphabet,
the travelling of the brothers, their sessions in the Vatican, their
mission in Moravia, etc.). Most of all, it sounds like the words of
a Someone who wrote on the subject and nothing more. Like
one possible interpretation. So I asked you what you mean in
choosing such big words. A political party? :-)

> > There are, actually findings of carved crosses with
> > proto-Bulgarian words. I guess there were such
> > attempts, but
> > not much evidence is found on them, so they must
> > have been a
> > few.
>
> *****GK: One wonders what would have happened in
> Bulgaria if the Proto-Bulgars had accepted
> Christianity, say, in the early 9th c., under Krum.

In the 9th century under Krum? Look it up, George, see when
Krum ruled Bulgaria.

> Perhaps there might have been some Byzantine
> Constantine who would have developed an alphabet for
> them plus a liturgy plus the lot. The most optimistic
> scenario would have had the modern Bulgarians speaking
> a Turkic dialect (:=))))******

The whole differentiation between Slav and Bulgar is irrelevant to
us, Bulgarians. It is relevant only to the extent that it helps us
trace our roots and learn more about our traditions. It is not an
either-or thinking.

Which you probably fail to understand.

Eva