The Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) is pleased to invite you to the public lecture-discussion on the topic “Germany in Dialogue: Cultural Exchange in a European Context”. It will be held on October 20, 2025 (Monday) at 18:00 in the Institute of Balkan Studies (45, Moskovska Street, 1000 Sofia). Special guests and lecturers will be H.E. Irene Maria Plank, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Bulgaria and Dr. Kirsten Hackenbroch, Director of Goethe-Institut Bulgaria.

The event is organized in institutional partnership with the State Institute for Culture to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. It is part of a series of public lecture-discussions dedicated to cultural diplomacy in Bulgaria and the Balkans.

We look forward to welcoming you!

This initiative is implemented as part of the Project “Cultural diplomacy in the Balkans in the 20th and 21st centuries: Achievements, challenges, and the way forward”, funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria, contract No. КП-06-Н80/4 dated 07.12.2023.

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The leadership of the Institute of Balkan Studies and Centre of Thracology, the Council for Bulgarian Studies Abroad at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Association for Bulgarian Studies of the USA are pleased to invite you to the presentation of the collection “LIVING BRIDGES ACROSS TIME. 12TH JOINT CONFERENCE OF BULGARIAN AND NORTH AMERICAN SCHOLARS/ЖИВИ МОСТОВЕ ВЪВ ВРЕМЕТО. XII-ТА СЪВМЕСТНА КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ НА БЪЛГАРСКИ И АМЕРИКАНСКИ УЧЕНИ“.

The collection is edited by Alexandre Kostov, Anissava Miltenova and Traci Speed. The edited volume is published by the Prof. Marin Drinov Publishing House of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (2025, 285 p.).

The book includes a preface and 21 articles from the bilateral scholarly conference held on June 15 and 16, 2024 in Sofia, in which Bulgarian and American researchers participated. The scholarly forum was dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Bulgaria. The event and the publication of this collection are part of the implemenation of the National Scientific Program "Development and Promotion of Bulgarian Studies Abroad", funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria. The book presentation will take place at the Institute of Balkan Studies and Centre of Thracology (45, Moskovska Street) on October 14, 2025 at 15:30.

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The Institute for Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology "Prof. Alexander Fol" at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) organizes a round table "HOMO LUDENS AND HOMO BALKANICUS: THE GAME IN THE VERBAL WORLD OF THE BALKANS". The event will be held on October 16 and 17, 2025 in the IBSCT-BAS, Moskovska Street No. 45.

The round table will be devoted to a fundamental phenomenon in the history of civilization, the subject of Johan Huizinga’s seminal work on homo ludens and the ludic element in culture. Across several panels, participants will present their inquiries into diverse manifestations of the ludic principle in literature, the arts, politics, diplomacy, sports, and other spheres of activity in the Balkans, as well as in the region’s interactions with Europe.

The round table also pays tribute to eminent Bulgarian scholars who have dedicated their research to this subject. Of particular significance are Prof. Svetlozar Igov, with his insights into the figure of Homo Balkanicus; Prof. Boilchev, with his monograph Adam Bernard Mickiewicz – Between the Stature of the National Prophet and Homo Ludens (1999); and Prof. Hristo Bondzholov, with his study Homo Balkanicus as Homo Ludens: The Satirical Worldview in the Works of Radoje Domanović and Branislav Nušić (2003). 

Please find below the link to join the Google Meet:

https://calendar.app.google/3QtBU8uMeozxDAsf9

PROGRAMME

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The Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) and the Faculty of History of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" are pleased to invite you to the presentation of the works of Prof. Serhii Plokhy and Prof. Mark Kramer, published in Bulgarian by CIELA and Prozorets Publishing Houses, as part of a broader discussion "Cold War and Hot War in Europe" moderated by Mr. Boyko Vassilev. The books and authors will be presented by Prof. D.Sc. Nadia Boyadzhieva affiliated with IBSCT-BAS.

The focus of the event will be the monograph "USSR and Eastern Europe" (2022, CIELA Publishing House) by Mark Kramer: A large-scale and detailed documentary study of Soviet policy towards Eastern Europe during the Cold War and the books by Serhii Plokhy "The Gates of Europe. History of Ukraine" (2022, Prozorets Publishing House), "The Russo-Ukrainian War" (2024, Prozorets Publishing House) and "The Lost Kingdom. History of Russian Nationalism from Ivan III the Great to Vladimir Putin" (2024, Prozorets Publishing House).

Date: September 24, 2025
Start: 18:00
Venue: Hall 1 of the Central Military Club

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On September 18, 2025 (Thursday) at 15:30, the Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) will hold a public lecture by Wolfgang Höpken, professor at the University of Leipzig and a visiting scholar, on the topic: “Unifications” in Modern European History: Contextualizing “1885”.

The event is organized at the IBSCT-BAS, 45 Moskovska Street, in implementation of the National Scientific Program "Development and Promotion of Bulgarian Studies Abroad" of the Ministry of Education and Science.

We look forward to welcoming you.

На 16 септември 2025 г. (вторник) от 15.30 ч.  Институтът за балканистика с Център по тракология при Българската академия на науките (ИБЦТ–БАН) ще проведе публична лекция на Чен Ин, професор в Пекинския университет за чужди езици и гостуващ чуждестранен българист, на тема „Развитие на българистиката в Китай: история и постижения“.

Събитието се организира в сградата на ИБЦТ–БАН на ул. „Московска“ № 45 като част от цикъла ВСЕКИ ВТОРИ ВТОРНИК и в изпълнение на Национална научна програма „Развитие и утвърждаване на българистиката в чужбина“ на МОН.

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A team of the Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) within the framework of the project “The Unknown Balkans: On the Historical Novel” organizes a discussion dedicated to the novel “The Jam Case” by Vera Mutafchieva.

The event is part of a series aiming to draw the audience’s attention to the historical novel and its influence on contemporary society. The moderator of the discussion will be Assistant Milen Petrov (IBSCT-BAS) and the leading discussant will be Assist. Prof. Dr. Delyan Rusev (Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”). Prominent historians who are specialists in Late Middle Ages and Early Modernity, ethnologists and writers will participate.

The discssion will be held on September 12, 2025 (Friday) at 17:30 in Conference Hall 1 of the Largo, Serdica Antique Complex of the Regional History Museum - Sofia, Nezavisimost Sq.

The event is part of the activities of the Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences under the project "The Unknown Balkans", implemented jointly with the Regional History Museum - Sofia, within the framework of their partnership in the Center for Excellence "Heritage BG" - B G16RFPR002-1.014-0011 "Sustainable Development of the Center for Excellence "Heritage BG".

On September 4-5, 2025, the Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) together with Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", the Institute for Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Military Academy "Georgi S. Rakovski", Archives State Agency and other nationally significant scientific and museum institutions will hold a Solemn International Scientific Session dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the Unification of Bulgaria with Eastern Romelia. The event is under the patronage of the Rector of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" Prof. Dr. Georgi Valchev and the Chairperson of the National Assembly Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Kiselova.

We look forward to welcoming you.

PROGRAMME

On September 3, 2025 at 16:00, the Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) organizes a public lecture by Prof. Dr. d.h.c. multiple Harald Heppner from Karl-Franzens University in Graz entitled "The Secularisation Process in Europe's Southeast as Research Problem".

The event will be in English and will be held in the IBSCT-BAS building, 45 Moskovska Street.

We look forward to seeing you!

The libraries of the Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) at Moskovska Street No. 45 and No. 13 will be closed from September 2 to 30, 2025 due to the librarian's annual leave.

The Institute of Balkan Studies with Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS), École française d’Athènes and the Archeological Museum of Sozopol present the exhibition Cultes égyptiens en Mer Noire/Egyptian Cults around the Black Sea. It is part of the ‘Thrace and Egypt in the Greco-Roman World’ project directed by Vessela Atanassova, a visiting researcher at the École française d’Athènes and is funded by Horizon TMA-Maria Skłodowska-Curie Actions (project n˚101130859 – ECAT). The opening will take place on August 7, 2025 at 18:00 at the Archaeological Museum of Sozopol (Khan Kroum Street No. 3).

The first contacts between the coastal cities of the Black Sea and ancient Egypt were probably established at the beginning of the first millennium BC. The large number of Egyptian or Egyptian-style amulets found in the Greek colonies as Chersonese Taurica, Olbia, Apollonia Pontica, Mesambria bear witness to these early commercial and cultural relations. After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the rise to power of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, certain cults from the Nile Valley spread to the eastern Mediterranean and reached the Black Sea coast. To their Egyptian roots were soon added Alexandrian and Greek features, which facilitated their reception all around the Pont-Euxin, along the multiple routes of a very dense network of communications. The exhibition Egyptian Cults around the Black Sea invites you to discover these ancient links between the Black Sea and the Nile Valley.

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The Institute of Balkan Studies with Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) held a Conference titled "Cultural Heritage in the Digital Era". It was organized on July 30, 2025 in the "Acad. Ivan Geshov" Hall at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

The sessions of the conference focussed on cultural heritage as an online resource and to the past, present and future of encyclopedias. Among the participants in the forum were Acad. Ilza Pazheva, Coordinator of the "Bulgarian Encyclopedia" Project; Prof. Vessela Tsakova, Main Coordinator of the Consortium for Modern Research Infrastructure in Support of Science, Culture and Technology, part of the National Roadmap for Scientific Infrastructure INFRAMAT; Harry Verwayen, General Director of the Europeana Foundation; Kiril Valchev, General Director of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA); scientists from various units of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences: IBSCT, Institute of Physical Chemistry, National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Scientific Centre "Bulgarian Encyclopedia", Institute for Information and Communication Technologies; from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

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