The Bulgarian state and the Bulgarian colony in Istanbul (XIX – beginning of the XXI century): historical roots, condition, perspectives
Abstract
The article examines the factors contributing to the decline of the Bulgarian community in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city with nearly 15.5 million inhabitants by the end of 2020. It notes the Bulgarian community's role in the National Renaissance in the capital of the Ottoman Empire and highlights negative trends in the development of the Bulgarian colony in Istanbul, including a steady decline, aging population, low birth rate, high emigration, and an increasing number of mixed marriages over the past century. As a result, the colony has dwindled to nearly 500 people, a number lower than the number of the “Bulgarian Turks”, who have better legal status.
The Orthodox religion and the efforts of the Bulgarian church and state are underlined as factors which are keeping national identity, particularly through the preservation of real estate formerly belonging to the Bulgarian Exarchate, national shrines for Bulgarians, and historical and cultural heritage sites for Turkey. The article also addresses the untapped potential of the Bulgarian colony in Istanbul for Bulgarian-Turkish relations.
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