120 years ago, on September 11 1900, in Plovdiv was born the great chronicler, writer, documentary filmmaker and historian Nikola Alvadjiev - the brightest name in the modern Plovdiv chronicle school.

In connection with this anniversary, on the initiative of the Mayor of Plovdiv Zdravko Dimitrov, the memorial plaque of Nikola Alvadjiev in the Old Town will be held a short ceremony at which the birth of the author will be honored with flowers on September 11, Friday, from 11.00.

Nadia Furnadzhieva from Letera Publishing House will talk about the life and books of the talented narrator. The ceremony will be attended by Nikola Alvadjiev's son - journalist Stanko Stoyanov, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Archeology and Tourism Plamen Panov, Mayor of Central Georgi Stamenov, municipal officials, representatives of the National Library "Ivan Vazov", Plovdiv community centers, citizens , media.

A curious detail from Nikola Alvadjiev's biography is that from 1924 to 1944 he headed the Municipal Care Department in the town hall. Throughout his life he actively collaborated with the Plovdiv press with theatrical reviews, historical notes, as well as with translations from French.

His first book "In the Shadows of Ancient Plovdiv" was published in 1937. He is the author of the most popular book - Chronicle of Plovdiv "Plovdiv Chronicle". Published in 1971, the book is a living exposition of the history of the city from 1900 to 1912. Until then, such a reading had not appeared for any other city in Bulgaria. The book was written with precision and artistic insight, which rarely succeeds in talented artists - fiction writers and poets. With the skill of an incredible narrator, the reader feels like walking around Plovdiv, and being told sweetly with those wonderful stories.

The premiere of the first edition of the book was holded on June 13, 1972 at the Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv. The edition was presented by Nikolay Haitov, who then took on the difficult task of popularizing the manuscript. The book quickly gained popularity among the townspeople. Alvadjiev has been looking for materials about the obsolete Plovdiv times since early adolescence.

Five editions of the book are continued to be retransmitted, searched and read.

In co-authorship with Ivan Terziiski and Hristo Dzhambov, he published the documentary collection "The Memory of a City", and in 2000 his book "Ancient Churches in Plovdiv" was published posthumously, completed by his son-journalist Stanko Stoyanov.

Nikola Alvadjiev received the Plovdiv Prize for Literature in 1972, and later the Order of Cyril and Methodius I degree.

 He died in 1974. He was posthumously declared an "Honorary Citizen" of Plovdiv in 2000. A street in the "Old Town" bears his name.

(edited from Bulgarian by Xiaotong Wei)

Read the original story here.