Yordanka Filaretova

Yordana Hadji Kotzeva Filaretova was born on 19 March 1843 in Sofia. She is one of the first students in the girls school newly- founded in Sofia by Sava Filaretov. He later became her husband. Filaretov is an opponent of the Greek clergy, and he is endeavoring to prepare society to fight it, discovering many secular schools in the villages. After he dies in 1863, Yordanka undertakes to continue her husband's deed.In 1869, on her initiative in Sofia, the company "Mother" was founded, aiming to support poor children, to open and support schools, to encourage and support whoever is eager to learn. After the Liberation in 1878, Filaretova continued her public affairs. During the Serbian-Bulgarian War in 1885 she became a charitable sister. She is the first woman in Bulgaria, awarded with the honorary sign of the Bulgarian Red Cross - "The Great Red Cross", founded by Prince Alexander I Battenberg.She dedicates her time to philanthropy, especially after her son Vladimir dies. The funds earmarked for his education, the enlightener donates to build a school. Thus, in 1893, the first Knyaginya Maria- Luisa Secondary School of Business was opened on Lavele Street (today the building houses the Museum of History of the Ministry of Interior). Later, Yordanka Filaretova withdrew from public life, bequeathed her properties to the church "St. Sunday "and goes on to live in Kremikovtsi Monastery. In 1909 she founded the charity company "Всех скорбящих радость". Its original purpose is to find a shelter for poor and lonely elderly people. In parallel, the company builds the so-called Profitable building on "St. Sunday ", which will ensure the cost of the shelter. In the building there are shops and offices that are rented and thus money is provided. On April 25, 1915, Yordanka Filaretova died. The benefactor leaves everything for charity. In 1924 the building of a larger shelter building was completed in 1927. After years the building started being used by the Nursing Training Institute (today Medical College), named after the prominent Bulgarian (Source: bg. wikipedia.org Photo: BNR)