Public Story
Root
Bessarabia was then a territory of the Russian Empire. The recently conquered by the Russians land was in the need to be inhabited and developed. So the Russian Empire invited different nationalities to colonize the region. Bulgarians responded to the invitation in the hope that they will find freedom here.
In their words, the “colonizers” found just an endless steppe – no trees, no houses and no water systems. However, the Bulgarians were able to cultivate the land, to build dozens of churches and schools and to preserve their language and culture in the foreign land.
Since then, Bessarabia has changed its political borders eight times. The region has been part of the Russian Empire, Moldova and Wallachia, Romania, Moldavian SSR and Ukrainian SSR.
Today the historical-geographical area of Bessarabia is divided between Moldova and Ukraine. It is a peaceful and colorful place formed by the different nationalities that live here – Bulgarians, Moldavians, Ukrainians, Gagauzi, Russians, Albanians, Jews and Gypsies.
For two years I’ve been exploring this region to document the ways in which Bessarabian Bulgarians manage to preserve their identity. Looks like the numerous changes have made them hold stronger to their roots. Knowing that their children may wake up in another geopolitical situation, though in the same place, the most valuable thing for them is their origin, which is Bulgarian.
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