"The memory of the characters of my book is particularly important, because all of them, to one degree or another, have dedicated their work to the cultural memory of Tsaribrod", says in an interview with Radio Bulgaria Donka Nikolova - author of the book "My Encounters with the spirit of Tsaribrod". According to her, the characters she talks about seem to "discover her themselves" from the very first day she started to explore Tsaribrod.

Donka Nikolova arrived in the town close to the Bulgarian-Serbian border as a teacher of Bulgarian language and literature, sent by the Ministry of Education and Science. The basis for her book are the articles she started writing in the local magazine "Visiya". More than one fourth of her work is dedicated to two brothers - the artists Ivan and Metodi Petrov and their difficult destiny, which left Ivan unknown to this day, and brought fame to his brother, not only in Tsaribrod, but also around the world.

A form of tribute to the talent of the illustrator Metodi Petrov, also known as one of the founders of Bulgarian comics, is the fact that the local art gallery in Tsaribrod bears his name.

It is not so easy to find information about the other artist - Ivan, though.

"Ivan Petrov's work has not yet been explored, because he is still a very controversial person. When I started to gather information about him, I realized how much he continues to be unknown or, rather, silenced by the locals," says Donka Nikolova and recalls that her first contact with the artist's work was an icon of the Four Evangelists, which she saw in the Nativity of the Virgin church in Tsaribrod.‎

When she wanted to learn more about the fate of the artist, local people referred her to his son's best friend, Jordan, who reluctantly provided her with a phone number. This is how Donka Nikolova got in touch with the heirs of the Tsaribrod artist, who live in Sofia today.‎

"I reached Ivan Petrov's family, they welcomed me with open arms and were very happy that someone was interested in the personality of this artist. With his wonderful memory and radiophonic voice that will forever ring in my ears, Yordan Petrov told the sad story of his father and family. They allowed me to look at all the paintings they have and directed me to where else I could look for his canvases in and around Nis.''

Ivan Petrov's life turned upside down in 1952, when he was arrested on a number of charges. Together with his brother Metodi, he was sent to work in the quarries of the Goli Otok concentration camp, and then, the two also worked in the workshop created for this purpose in the camp. Ivan Petrov remained in the camp until 1962, and his brother Metodi was released in 1957.‎

Most often, the two brothers painted portraits of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, the Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito, as well as Georgi Dimitrov. Gradually, the guards also began to make orders for their own portraits being painted. Therefore, quite a few of Ivan Petrov's paintings are found in the families of officials in various prisons in Serbia. ‎

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"He has managed to create an environment in which he could realize his potential, even while in prison. He created a large part of his works there. When he asked to see his wife or someone else in his family, he painted large and beautiful canvases for the guards and investigators. He also made portraits of their entire families," says Donka Nikolova. ‎

Apart from the two artists, the book "My Encounters with the Spirit of Tsaribrod" also includes the stories of some Tsaribrod writers, such as Detko Petrov, whose name is the National Library in Tsaribrod, the poet, writer and publicist Blagoi Dimitrov, the journalist, critic and long-time teacher at the Tsaribrod High School ‎Vlastimir Vaтсev and others. ‎

‎"Complete dedication to art is their life's work. Vigilance and anxious dissatisfaction mark their path through time and to the sources of their native place," summarizes their researcher.‎

In 2021, the author of the book "My Encounters with the Spirit of Tsaribrod" Donka Nikolova was awarded the "Awakener of the Year" award in the town from Bulgaria’s Western outlands whose population zealously preserves its Bulgarian roots. She accepted this gesture with surprise and sincere gratitude.

‎"Perhaps I received this award also because of the fact that I am the first teacher sent by the Ministry of Education and Culture to Tsaribrod since the city was outside the borders of Bulgaria, and also because of the book, which was already known to be published. I asked to supplement the publication with information that was left out of the articles known to people. I am glad that, despite the subsequent delay, it is still a fact with all the pictures and texts that I have suggested. The initiator of its publication was the Detko Petrov library in Tsaribrod, its director Albena Milev and the librarian Elizabeth Georgiev, without whom I would not have been able to do it," concludes Donka Nikolova.‎

English version Rositsa Petkova