05 Works, Today, May 2nd, is Boris I's day, With Footnotes - #123

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Boris I of Bulgaria

Holy Tsar Boris-Michael of Bulgaria (died 2 May 907), was the ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire in 852–889. At the time of his baptism in 864, Boris was named Michael after his godfather, Emperor Michael III. The historian Steven Runciman called him one of the greatest persons in history.

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Miniature 57 from the Constantine Manasses Chronicle, 14 century: Christianization of the Bulgarians

Despite a number of military setbacks, the reign of Boris I was marked with significant events that shaped Bulgarian and European history. With the Christianization of Bulgaria in 864 paganism was abolished. 

Conversion to Christianity met great opposition among the Bulgars' elite. Some refused to become Christians while others apostasized after baptism and started a rebellion against Boris for forcing them to be baptized. 

A skillful diplomat, Boris I successfully exploited the conflict between the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Papacy to secure an autocephalous Bulgarian Church, thus dealing with the nobility's concerns about Byzantine interference in Bulgaria's internal affairs.

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Boris I meeting the disciples of Saints Cyril and Methodius, fresco, 16th century; in the Eleshnitsa Monastery, near Sofia, Bulgaria

When in 885 the disciples of Saints Cyril and Methodius were banished from Great Moravia, Boris I gave them refuge and provided assistance to develop the Cyrillic script and the Slavic literature. 

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Confession of Tzar Boris. Details of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Icon

In 889 Boris I abdicated and became a monk, but he retained the right to take an active part in the government of the state. His eldest son, Vladimir rasat, and successor tried to restore the old pagan religion but was deposed by Boris I. 

Boris then returned to active politics. With the aid of loyal boyars and the army, Boris drove his son from the throne. Vladimir was blinded, rendering him unfit for rule, and was replaced by Boris’s third son, who ruled as Simeon the Great (893–927).

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Enthronement of Simeon and Punishment of Vladimir

Fresco

Saint Demetrius Church in Teshovo 

During the Council of Preslav which followed that event, the Byzantine clergy was replaced with Bulgarians, and the Greek language was replaced with what is now known as Old Church Slavonic, which in Bulgaria is known as Old Bulgarian, as an official language of the Church and the state.

He is regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church, as the Prince and baptizer of Bulgaria, and as Equal-to-the-Apostles, with his feast day observed on May 2. More on Holy Tsar Boris-Michael of Bulgaria

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