Speech by Bozhil Rainov “Memories on my teaching with Traycho in Salonica during the school year 1882 – 1883”

The one hundred and fourty years of history of the Bulgarian Boys’ High School (gymnasium) in Salonica is connected with a generation of famous Bulgarians, educators and revolutionaries. One of the brightest personalities is undoubtedly Bozhil Raynov - the first principal of the school, who laid the foundation for the future achievements of this cultural and educational centre. 

He was appointed teacher and director of the first Bulgarian high school in Macedonia in 1881 by the Exarchate. Bozhil Raynov left detailed information about the first two years of his key presence in Salonica (Thessaloniki) and the difficulties in establishing the new school. Bozhil Raynov delivered a speech “Memories of my teaching with Traycho in Salonica during the school year 1882 – 1883” on September 12, 1920 at the Military Club in Sofia, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the death of Trayko Kitanchev – teacher of geography, of general history and literature and a close friend of the first headmaster of the high school. 

In 1980, the 140 Михаела Василева speech, which was found within Bozhil Raynov’s manuscripts and was retyped by his son, was donated to Blagoevgrad Regional Historical Museum. Its full text is published for the first time in this publication.