Stefan Gechev, Bulgarian writer

BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FACTS FOR THE LIFE AND THE LITERARY ACTIVITIES OF STEPHAN ALBERTOV GECHEV

Stephan Albertov Gechev was born January 29, 1911 in the city of Russe. His father, Albert Gechev, was a literary critic and his mother, Rada Gacheva, was a French instructor in a secondary school.

1917-1922 - Studies in Russe
1922-1925 - The family moved to Plovdiv and he continued his education here.
1926-1927 - Studies in the college “Louis le Grand” in Paris.
1927-1929 - Studies in the First secondary school of Sofia.

1929-1934 - Studies and graduates with excellent marks in Slavic philology from the University of Sofia.

1934-1935 - Probationary teacher in the Second secondary school for boys.

1935 October - He left for Athens to study Greek language and Byzantine literature.

1936-1942 - Worked in the Bulgarian legation in Athens as a clerk with foreign languages and later as a dragoman interpreter.

1942-1944 - Worked as a press attache in Bratislava.

1944 - In September on the insistence of the Slovak authorities he was forced to leave Bratislava and migrated to Peshtiani, because he proclaimed himself for the government in Sofia.

1945 - In May he returned in Bratislava and was appointed a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.

1946 - Appointed a consul in the Bulgarian legation in Bratislava.

1947-1949 - He left for Warsaw as a Second secretary in the Bulgarian legation.

1949 - In April he returned to Bulgaria and began work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In December he was dismissed, as he was not a member of the Communist party.

1950-1956 - Worked in the newspaper “Hornet”. Dismissed because of political reasons after the developments in Hungary.

1957-1958 - Literary manager in the recently founded Satiric theatre.

1959 -1965 - Worked as editor in review “Flame”.

1966 - Vice editor-in-chief at magazine “Contacts”. He retired on pension the same year.

1967 - Publication of his book of poetry “Belejnik”(“Diary”) because of which he is strongly criticized by Venelin Kozev in the official report of the Central committee of the Communist party dedicated to the literature.

1974 - Member of the Union of the translators in Bulgaria.

1985 -The managing committee of the Union of the translators in Bulgaria awarded him for his translations from Greek and for his entire activity as translator.

1989 - Premiere of his play “The case of the disappearance of the body of Jesus of Nazareth” at Theatre 199 in Sofia.

1991 - He left for Paris at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France to create contacts between Bulgarian and French publishers.

1992 - Premiere of his play “Assassins” in the National theatre Ivan Vazov. He took part in a meeting of Greek intellectuals abroad and of famous translators from Greek in Delphi.

1994 - Premiere of his play “The Golgotha of Varava” in the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.

When awarding him the Greek Golden Cross of the Legion, Ambassador
Atanasios Sideris called Gechev “kalos kai agathos,” borrowing a term from
the Ancient Greek philosopher Plato to compliment the author on his spiritual
greatness. At Sofia in 1996

1997 - Received an honorary diploma for contribution in the development and the popularization of the Bulgarian culture by the Ministry of Culture of Republic Bulgaria. On June 17 he was awarded by the high distinction “Knight of the Legion for art and literature” bestowed from the ambassador of France in Bulgaria, Mr. Tremo. On July 28 he is awarded with a Honorary diploma for his entire translator’s activity and his contribution to the popularization of the Greek literature in Bulgaria. The diploma was awarded to him by the Union of the translators together with the Embassy of Republic Greece.

1998 - The mayor of Athens awarded him a gold medal from the Greek Union of the translators and interpreters for his entire translator’s activity, which was a contribution to the recent Greek literature and culture.

2000 - Stephan Albertov Gechev died on January 4 in Sofia