12147 | 27 June 2025 | 13:48

In his 1850 "Bukvar", which is considered an important stage in the development of the New Bulgarian language, he signed with the name Teodor Teodorovich (Hrulyuvski), a native of Lyaskovets, and a mutual teacher from Svishtov

During his brief 44-year life, Todor Hrulev published 17 books: primers, catechisms, geographies, grammar books, pedagogical books, and translated works from Serbian with educational content. He devoted twenty years of his life to teaching. Children in schools in Northern Bulgaria studied from his textbooks. They were concise and written in the New Bulgarian language. The books were very popular and widely distributed in the 1950s and 1960s.

 He was born in Lyaskovec around 1821. His parents were farmers. He studied at the metochion of the monastery of St. Peter and Paul under the renowned teacher Maxim Raykovich.

 He worked in Serbia as a gardener, where he learned Serbian well and later translated books from it. He was a lover of knowledge since his youth, but he did not have the eloquence of Father Maxim Raykovich. 

 He left for Plovdiv to continue with his studies, but did not stay long because he could not support himself. He was forced to become a teacher and found a place in Piradop. His desire for higher education led him to Svishtov in 1842 to study under the renowned teacher Hristaki Pavlovich. At that time, ten students studied with him, all of them his friends from his hometown of Lyaskovec.

 In Hristaki Pavlovich's Slavonic-Greek school, the mutual teaching method was introduced at the time, and strict order and discipline were maintained. Todor Hrulev became a servant in the school in order to support himself and continue his studies. Soon, he showed his talents and Hristaki Pavlovich made him his assistant in teaching.

 In 1846, the citizens of Svishtov built a new school in the Harizanov neighborhood, called the "Slavonic-Bulgarian" or "St. Nicholas" school.] Todor Hrulev has been working there for eighteen years. He is a teacher for young children, teaching them to read and write, publishing primers, textbooks, teaching aids and dictionaries.

 He preached to adults in the church and encouraged them to stand up against the Greek rulers and priests. He also translated religious and instructional books. One of his great achievements was the publication of Sofroniev's "Sunday", in 1856. This book was difficult for devout believers who did not understand the ancient language. Todor Hrulev worked on the style and spelling and published the book in pure Bulgarian so that it would be useful and understandable for the people.

 "Sofronie" became popular precisely because of his edition.

 In his home, awake Bulgarians gathered, dissatisfied with the double slavery, making plans for educational work against Greeks and Turks. Todor Hrulev takes part in the ongoing church issue. He stands against the Unionism led by the troublemaker Dragan Tsankov from Svishtov. He has been corresponding with Georgi Rakovski on this matter, while also cooperating with him in his newspapers. Hrulev admires the Bulgarian revolutionary, ethnographer and writer.

 When he reads Rakovski's "Indicator", he writes to him from Svishtov on April 24, 1859: "Glory and gratitude to your dear efforts, with which you uncover the dark curtain of the Bulgarian people, live on, new Venelin! May the Bulgarian milk which you have been milking be halal for you, may your life and talent be halal".

 Todor Hrulev has also corresponded with other Bulgarian Renaissance educators, whom he encouraged towards spirituality and serving the people. He sent them his textbooks for free.

 "He leads the rebellion of the people of Svishtov against the Greek bishop Gregory. In 1863, when the bishop was consecrating a church in the village of Kara Isen, the people of the Danube city rose up in revolt, led by Todor Hrulev. Everyone stood against Gregory and the consecration of the church. They were able to thwart the ritual. Because of this, as well as other acts against Hellenism, Gregory slandered him to the Turkish authorities, accusing him of being a rebel. He was summoned to court in Rousse, but the leaders of Svishtov stood up for him and he was acquitted.

 At the same time, the Laskovchan Pavel Kalyandji sent two crates of books and textbooks for Bulgarian teachers from Russia through Hrulev. However, the Turkish authorities found offensive words in them and had suspicions about certain documents." Todor Hrulev was arrested and later sentenced to imprisonment in Diyarbakir by the court of Mitad Pasha. Todor Hrulev could not endure the harsh conditions in prison and passed away on January 30, 1865, leaving behind a wife and five children.

 The other Bulgarian prisoners in Diyarbakir buried him in the courtyard of the Armenian Church "St. Besrebrenitzi".

 After his death, he left behind manuscripts, books, and textbooks that were never published. Through his grammar from 1859 and other publications, he established the "New Bulgarian School", which until then was dominated by the "Slavic School" promoted by his teacher Hristaki Pavlovich.

 Todor Hrulev also left behind several poems. He recorded folk songs, which greatly influenced his poetry. In his work "Bukvar" from 1850, which is considered an important stage in the development of the new Bulgarian language, he signed with the name Theodor Theodorovich (Hrulyuvski), a resident of Lovech, and a mutual teacher from Svishtov.

 Todor Hrulev was highly valued by his students. He was incredibly hardworking, devout to God, and strictly adhered to moral laws. He believed that Bulgaria would free itself from all forms of slavery - political and spiritual. He established himself as a true enlightener in the 1850s and 1860s. His books and textbooks played an important historical role in Bulgarian education.