Veliko Turnovo mayor Roumen Rashev has announced a bold project to be launched on the Day of Enlightenment, November 1 - a project that will literally rewrite history.
Based on Saint Paisii Hildenarskis' "little book" written more than 244 years ago and described as the first work to spark the Bulgarian peoples' consciousness', the project will involve 244 of Veliko Turnovos' residents, including academics, teachers, writers, journalists, will contribute to an "update" of the Monk from Athos.
Fittingly, as the project is a rewrite of the book written by Saint Hilendarski, the Bishop of Veliko TUrnovo metropolis also attended the news conference announcing the project, and spoke movingly and wryly about the project.

Representing academia, the Rector of the University of Veliko Turnovo also gave a short presentation on the immense importance of the proposed new book. The re-writing will start on November 1 at 10am in the Nadezhda National Revival Centre and will continue from the next day in all schools in the city, which formerly served as Bulgaria's capital. Any citizen wishing to take part in this unique and ambitious rewriting  process can do so between November 25 and December 15 at the PR Slaveikov Library.

The aim is to have the work ready by January 1 2007, a book written by the people of Veliko Turnovo that will act as a defining statement of the proud and impressive history of the people of Bulgaria, this being the city's crowning contribution to the country's accession to the EU.

It is ironic that such a book, glorifying the national identity should be part of Bulgaria's entry to the European Hegemony, as the citizens of many of the member states of the EU feel that membership robs their country of national identity. Ironic maybe, but also perhaps fitting that Bulgaria reasserts its own character before entering the greater whole.