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Simeon Radev and Bistra Vinarova – a timeless love

Bistra Vinarova and Simeon Radev

On January 19 Bulgaria marks the 140th anniversary since the birth of the celebrated Bulgarian diplomat, publicist, art critic and writer Simeon Radev. He was a person with extensive knowledge in various fields. Simeon Radev knew several European languages, as well as Persian, Arabic and Turkish. He wrote the emblematic three-volume book The Builders of Modern Bulgaria which describes the history of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom. His wife - artist Bistra Vinarova was also a remarkable personality, yet she was famous mainly among the biggest fans of Bulgarian art. According to journalist Magdalena Gigova who studies the remarkable personalities in the Bulgarian history, Simeon Radev and Bistra Vinarova was an amazing couple. They were extremely talented people who loved each other a lot.

Being a diplomat of high rank Simeon Radev was sent to important missions to Washington, London and Brussels. He enjoyed the respect of the royal family and even helped King Ferdinand in his diplomatic correspondence in French. Radev was the only Bulgarian who had photos of the US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who wrote on them To the Great Bulgarian Mr. Simeon Radev.

Prince Kiril Preslavski and Minister Plenipotentiary Simeon Radev before their meeting with President Herbert Hoover, Washington, 1929

Simeon Radev met Bistra Vinarova for the first time when he visited her family to record the memories of her mother who was an inheritor of the renowned Bulgarian doctor and politician Georgi Valkovich. At that time Bistra was only eighteen and went to study painting abroad.

Bistra Vinarova – a portrait of Nikos KazantzakisBistra Vinarova studied in many European capitals, but she stayed in Paris quite long and worked in the parlor of world famous artist Auguste Rodin where she met with poet and novelist Reiner Maria Rilke, Magdalena Gigova told Radio Bulgaria. The poet who worked at that time as an assistant and secretary of Rodin sent her many love letters and romantic verses. She understood him, but did not feel the same way. The Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis also fell in love with her and wrote enthusiastic comments about her exhibitions. Bistra and Nikos maintained correspondence until the end of their lives. Bistra Vinarova also communicated with Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.

Celebrated German sculptor Georg Kolbe appreciated her talent as painter and her opinion as an artist. She was considered among the brightest representatives of symbolism in that period and her exhibitions were extremely successful.

Bistra Vinarova met with Simeon Radev in Vienna. They talked about art, literature and philosophy and fell for each other. Bistra and Simeon got engaged in Istanbul, where Radev served as Plenipotentiary Minister. They had a dream-to settle in Italy. However, destiny had other plans for them, because Simeon Radev was an excellent diplomat and his mission was dedicated to Bulgaria. Their spiritual link was so strong that they communicated mentally from a distance. For example, in 1925 Bistra Vinarova used her telepathic skills to warn Simeon not to go to Saint Nedelya church and he escaped death. Over 100 people died and 500 were wounded during the terrorist attack of extreme communists against the Bulgarian military elite and the Bulgarian King in Saint Nedelya Church on April 16, 1925.

They were married for one year only at that time, Magdalena Gigova notes. Another case that proves their telepathic link happened during the Bombing of Sofia in WW1. They went to live with their friends in Boyana residential district. One day Radev went to Sofia where he heard the rumble of the bombers. Bistra Vinarova sat in a corner and started to smoke nervously. Her son walked past her, but she did not pay any attention to him. Thirty minutes later she sighed with relief and said “Your father is alive, I spoke to him!” Several hours later Simeon Radev himself returned home and told them that he did himself in the bomb shelter of the Ministry of Regional Development where he sent all his mental energy to tell her he was alive. Bistra and Simeon had a very strong connection until the end of their lives.

Bistra Vinarova – two self-portraits and a portrait of Simeon Radev

Simeon Radev was dismissed by the new regime after September 9, 1944. However, he was not sentenced and persecuted for his service for the royal family thanks to his contribution in the diplomatic sphere and his emblematic book The Builders of Modern Bulgaria. However, he kept the new regime at a distance, because he did not want to trample on his principles. The new regime paid the necessary respect to him, but did not offer him any job. Bistra had to paint socialist posters in order to feed her family. Their son Trayan Radev had three university diplomas but managed to find a job in the construction sector only. They had a very difficult life, but their intellect kept their spirits alive. Simeon Radev passed away ten years before his wife. After his death Bistra Vinarova used to sit every day near his portrait surrounded by thoughts about her husband.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: bulgarianhistory.org

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