The exhibition was shown from the 4th of May till the 4th of June 2006 in the crypt of Alexander Nevski cathedral, Sofia, Bulgaria A video version of the exhibition “Shadows, signs and echo” was specially created and shown in July 2006 at an International exhibition in Aabenraa, Denmark.

Signs, shadows and echo

The exhibition was shown from the 4th of May till the 4th of June 2006 in the crypt of Alexander Nevski cathedral, Sofia, Bulgaria.

The main part is composed of an installation of shadows and a tripod functioning as an altar covered with salt on which lays a receptacle with water and a candle. Projected on the wall is a video with running water, burning fire and salt been pouring.

Before entering the exhibition, the visitor confronts the noise and chaos of the city environment and is then lead by 3 angels to the exhibition hall. The angels are made out of transparent resin and light installation.

At the end of the exhibition follow 2 posters and short references to historical and archaeological sources.

Signs, shadows and echo

The exhibition refers to some recently discovered artifacts about the ancient Bulgarian civilization preceding the Christian period, the pre-Christian Bulgarian calendar and guidance by the stars, the sun and natural elements. 1*, 2*, 5*

The silver eagle found in Kan Asparukh’s tomb is a sacred heaven symbol, with 12 round spheres on its back symbolizing the 12 main constellations and related to the 12 years calendar of the Ancient Bulgarians. 3*

IYI, Tangra, was a cosmic concept and not simply a god.

“Jesus who shone with the help of IYI” says an inscription over a Christian stone cross from the 10th century. 3*

On Bulgarian traditional woven carpets can be seen a decorative element with the symbol of Yang and Yin, the positive and negative energy. 4*

Alexander Hoffart comes to the conclusion that the horseman of Madara is… a monument of a cosmic event… 6*

Ancient Bulgarian knowledge and beliefs about the stars and the natural elements, as well as about the energy in us and in the cosmos allowed them to cure illnesses and even to correct people’s fate. 7*

The ancient Bulgarian “old women’s incantations” accompanied by rituals involving water, fire or salt with the purpose of curing from Physical and mental illnesses are maybe an echo from the ancient Bulgarian medicine.

A curious link to present makes the most recent scientific research on water done by the Japanese doctor Masaru Emoto which demonstrates that our energy is reflected in water and is related to the energy of the Universe. 8*

Bibliography:

1* PhD Petar Dobrev – THE BULGARIAN FIREPLACES OF CIVILIZATION ON THE MAP OF EURO-ASIA, Sofia, 1998

2* Georgy Velev – THE BULGARIAN PEOPLE’S CALENDAR – BASIS AND ESSENCE, Sofia, 2003

3* PhD Petar Dobrev and Milena Dobreva – ANCIENT BULGARIAN EPIGRAPHICS, Sofia, 2001

4* Petar Goliysky – ZIEZI FROM WHOM THE BULGARIANS COME FROM. Pre-Christian and Pre-Islamic religion and mythology, Sofia, 2003

5* PhD Petar Dobrev – BALHARA NEAR THE PAMIR MOUNTAINS. An outlook to the Bulgarian land of origin, Sofia, 2004

6* Alexander Hoffart – THE LOST CODES OF THE ANCIENT BULGARIANS – Tangra, TanNakRa, Publishing, Sofia, 2002

7* Tagir Abdull Al Bulgary – A GYÓGYTÓ BIOENERGIA TITKAI. A volgai bulgárok ősi gyógytó módszerei, Lazi Könyvkiadó, Szeged, 2001; ASORS KORREKCIÓJA, Lazi Könyvkiadó, Szeged, 2005, translated in Russian under the title THE VOLGA BULGARIANS MEDICINE at www.freeweb.hu/bulgarmed

8* Masaru Emoto THE HIDDEN MESSAGES IN WATER Beyond Words Publishing, Inc. Hillsboro, Oregon, 2004