13891 | 1 Nov. 2024 | 10:50

Our compatriots are desperate, disgusted, and on the verge of becoming bestialized by the vile actions of the so-called politicians (with few exceptions)

 - Mr. Granitski, today we celebrate the Day of Awakening. What does this day mean to you? Why is it important for Bulgaria?  

   - The Day of Awakening, undoubtedly, is the most important holiday for Bulgaria. It is the only one that is not attacked by political turmoil and is not overshadowed by the opportunistic switching from one geopolitical orientation to another.  

 - Is Bulgarian society awake or asleep today? Have we fallen into a lethargic pink liberal-Atlantic dream? And isn't this dream a slave-like one?  

 - Even the blind can see today that unfortunately, Bulgarian society is not only asleep and manipulated by the endless disputes of the failed political liberal pseudo-elite. Our compatriots are desperate, disgusted, and on the verge of becoming wild from the vulgar tactics of so-called politicians (with few exceptions).

 - Why do we remember (if we remember) our great revivers, our Bulgarian awakeners only on holidays, and seem to shy away from their work?

 This fact is also proof of moral decay and the corrupting nihilism imposed by those in power who, in the last thirty years, have surpassed even some of the Latin American comprador "elites" in servility and subservience.

 - Do we have awakeners today? Where are they?

 - They work in all spiritual spheres - teachers, doctors, engineers, artists, writers, musicians, directors, etc. But they fight alone and their energy is scattered.

 But young people seem to prefer the non-Bulgarian holiday of Halloween? Is there no danger of the pumpkin overtaking the book?
 
 - The case with this foreign holiday only shows that one, and perhaps two generations of relatively young Bulgarians are on their way to losing the awareness of their national identity, forgetting their cultural heritage and becoming a kind of homunculi.  

 - Recently you were elected as an academician by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. How does this great recognition make you feel? 

 - For me, this is a great honor that obliges me to work even more persistently in the field of Bulgarian literature, art, and culture.


 - Your personal and professional path is inevitably connected to Bulgarian art and culture, especially Bulgarian literature. What is their condition today?

 - Even today, brilliant Bulgarian creators are working in favor of their homeland, but the lack of a national industrial strategy for the development of Bulgarian art and culture has turned them into children of a wicked stepmother. Thus, they work according to the principle "the fate of the drowning is in the hands of the drowning themselves." In other words, they survive individually and with tremendous effort.

 - For almost 30 years, the publishing house "Zahariy Stoyanov" has pleased literature lovers with many strong titles. How did you manage to survive in today's overly mercenary society, where more commercial titles seem to be preferred?

 - With persistent work and perseverance, with countless travels and presentations of books, exhibitions, chamber performances, organizing round tables, discussions, etc., etc. We don't intend to brag, but in these thirty years there is hardly a corner in our beloved homeland where we haven't had guests with famous Bulgarian creators - in total there have been over 4000 organized and conducted meetings featuring over 2500 original Bulgarian titles - prose, poetry, scientific and children's literature, etc.

 - How do we separate valuable literature from non-valuable or openly weak?

 - The only sure way is to restore the role of literary criticism. It's not a coincidence that almost all publications that publish literary analyses, problematic and overview articles, annual reviews, etc. have been liquidated. Only regular advertising annotations remain in some publications. Problematic and in-depth literary and artistic criticism always has a social nerve. Today's strong forces of the day are very afraid of the social aspects of analyzing a work. This is the main reason for serious literary and artistic criticism to be sent to the ninth circle.

  - Are some contemporary authors being favorited over others who are forgotten or remain in the shadow?  

   - Of course, some are being favored. The most glaring examples are the blatantly and shamelessly supported authors by some foreign foundations, whose literary merits are quite modest.

   - You wrote the book "The Energy of the Bulgarian Spirit". Does this energy still exist? Hasn't it started to run out?

  - I want to believe that the energy of the Bulgarian spirit is still alive and smoldering like a burning ember under the ashes of today's lottophagy and ruling nihilism, imposed by pseudo-politicians and quasi-statesmen. I am expecting the explosion of this energy to start a new and soul-saving revival of the Motherland.

 - "Debt and Honor" is one of the iconic series of the publishing house "Zahariy Stoyanov." What do you want to say to the readers with it? And have concepts like "duty" and "honor" not been forgotten today?

 - In just a few years, over 60 titles have been published in this series - from books about Khan Tervel, Tsar Simeon the Great, Tsar Samuel, Tsar Kaloyan, to national revolutionaries and fighters such as Vasil Levski, Panayot Hitov, Lyuben Karavelov, Hristo Botev, Stefan Stambolov, Gotse Delchev, Georgi Rakovski, to great spiritual leaders like the First teacher Methodius, Paisius of Hilendar, Ilarion Makariopolski, Sofronii of Vratsa, to celebrated Bulgarian writers like Ivan Vazov, Yordan Yovkov, Petko and Pencho Slaveykov, Nikola Vaptsarov, etc. It is precisely because the modern generations seem to have forgotten the concepts of duty and honor (words engraved on the swords of the brave cavalry soldiers of Gen. Ivan Kolev), that we are publishing this series. According to us, she has the super task of waking up the still sleepy Bulgarian society.

 - When one hears the name Ivan Granitski, one of the first associations is Bulgaria. Is it difficult today to be Bulgarian?

 - It is difficult, but it is worthy. As inheritors of such rich and millennium-old traditions, we are obligated to pass on through the ages the spiritual messages of several great civilizations - Thracian, ancient Greek, Roman, Proto-Bulgarian, Slavic, Byzantine. And we must be filled with a sense of responsibility and not bend in the face of any difficulties.

 - There is no way not to mention the scandal with the play by George Bernard Shaw "Arms and the Man", which is staged by John Malkovich at the National Theatre "Ivan Vazov". The Union of Bulgarian Writers has released a special statement which was ridiculed by some media outlets. What is your comment on the matter?

 - Why should this play not be performed in our country? - The Union of Bulgarian Writers reacted correctly and with dignity to this scandalous provocation. The National Theatre "Ivan Vazov" could have chosen to stage a different play by Bernard Shaw, but instead chose this provocative, offensive, and historically inaccurate play - a pamphlet towards us, the Bulgarians. This provocation reminds me of the attempt ten years ago to deny the heroism and sacrifice of the people of Batak. A dirty attempt that, thank God, was rejected with outrage by the entire Bulgarian society and most media outlets. I hope that Bulgarian society, as well as the reputable media, will react to this provocation and protect our national honor and dignity.

 - Your prayer for Bulgaria?

 - In this difficult moment, in my opinion, the best prayer is the troparion of the honorable cross - "Save, Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, grant victories to our nation and preserve Your people through Your cross." Interview with Boyan Boychev, DUMA newspaper, "Nedelnik".