Kyustendil ( ) is a town in the far west of Bulgaria, the capital of the Kyustendil Province, a former bishopric and present Latin Catholic titular see.
The town is situated in the southern part of the Kyustendil Valley, near the borders of Serbia and North Macedonia; 90 km southwest of Sofia, 130 km northeast of Skopje and 243 km north of Thessaloniki. The population is 37 799, with a Bulgarian majority and a Roma minority. During the Iron Age, a Thracian settlement was located within the town, later known as Roman in the 1st century AD. In the Middle Ages, the town switched hands between the Byzantine Empire, Bulgaria and Serbia, prior to Ottoman Empire annexation in 1395. After centuries of Ottoman rule, the town became part of an independent Bulgarian state in 1878.
Names
The modern name is derived from
Kösten, the Turkified name of the 14th-century Serbian magnate Constantine Dragaš, from
Latin constans, "steadfast" + the Turkish
il "shire, county" or "bath/spa".
[Ćorović 2001, ch. 3, XIII. Boj na Kosovu] The town was known as
Pautalia () in Antiquity and as
Velbazhd (Latin Velebusdus;
Medieval Greek:
Belebousda; Bulgarian: Велбъжд;
Serbian language: Велбужд) in the Middle Ages.
Eponymy
Kyustendil Ridge in
Graham Land,
Antarctica is named after the city,
[ Kyustendil Ridge. SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer.] and
Pautalia Glacier on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands,
Antarctica is named after
Pautalia (its
Thracians ancestor settlement).
[ Pautalia Glacier. SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer.]
History
Prehistory and Roman era
A
Thracians settlement was founded at the place of the modern town in the 5th-4th centuries BC and was known for its
asclepion, a shrine dedicated to medicine god Asclepius.
Under the name Pautalia ( or Πανταλία) it was a town in the district of Dentheletica. Its position in the Peutinger Table places Pautalia at Kyustendil; and the situation of this town at the sources of the Strymon agrees remarkably with the figure of a river-god, accompanied by the "legend" Στρύμων ("Strymon"), on some of the autonomous coins of Pautalia, as well as with the letters ΕΝ. ΠΑΙΩ. ("En. Paio"), which, on other coins, show that the inhabitants considered themselves to be Paeonians, like the other inhabitants of the banks of that river. On another coin of Pautalia, the productions of its territory are alluded to, namely, gold, silver, wine, and corn.[Joseph Hilarius Eckhel, Doctrina numorum veterum, volume ii. p. 38] In the reign of Hadrian, the people both of Pautalia and Serdica added Ulpia to the name of their town, probably in consequence of some benefit received from that emperor. Stephanus of Byzantium has a district called Paetalia (Παιταλία), which he assigns to Thrace, probably a false reading.
In the 1st century AD, it was administratively part of Macedonia. Later the city was part of the province of Dacia Mediterranea and the third largest city in the province.
The Roman fortress of Pautalia of the 2nd to 4th century had an area of over 29 hectares (appr. 72 acres). The fortress wall was built mainly of granite blocks and unusually its façade was supported with pillars and arches behind. The wall was 2.5m wide allowing small catapults to be mounted atop.
A second, smaller fortress of area 2 hectares was built in the town in the 4th century (known by its later Ottoman name Hisarlaka).
Many Thracian and Roman objects are exhibited in the town's Regional History Museum, most notably an impressive numismatic collection.
Recent excavations have revealed an early Christian, late Roman monumental bishop's palace.
Middle Ages
The town was mentioned under the
Slavic language name of
Velbazhd (Велбъжд, meaning "camel")
in a 1019 charter by the
Byzantine Emperor
Basil II. It became a major religious and administrative centre of the
Byzantine Empire, and subsequently the Second Bulgarian Empire after
Kaloyan conquered the area between 1201 and 1203.
In 1282, Serbian king Stefan Milutin defeated the Byzantine Empire and conquered Velbazhd.
In 1330, the Serbs defeated the Bulgarians in the vicinity, effectively keeping the region to the Serbian Kingdom. Serbian magnate Dejan, one of the prominent figures of the Serbian Empire and its subsequent fall, had initially held a large province in the Kumanovo region under Dušan, and was later as despot under Uroš V assigned the Upper Struma river with Velbuzhd.[Mihaljčić 1989, pp. 79-81][Fajfric, 42] Upon Dejan's death, his possessions in Žegligovo and Upper Struma were given to his two sons, Jovan Dragaš (d. 1378) and Konstantin (d. 1395). The Dejanović brothers ruled a spacious province in eastern Macedonia,[Samardzic 1892 p. 22: ] in the southern lands of the Empire, and remained loyal to Uroš V,[Fine 1994, p. 358] until 1373, when Orhan's Ottoman army compelled Jovan to recognize Ottoman vassalage.[Edition de l'Académie bulgare des sciences, 1986, "Balkan studies, Volume 22", p. 38]
Ottoman era
The city was a
sanjak centre initially in
Rumelia governorate-general, after that in the
Bitola and Niš
(province). It was a
kaza centre in the
Sofia sanjak of Danube Province until the creation of the Principality of Bulgaria in 1878.
Modern
The residents of Kyustendil took an active part in the Bulgarian National Revival and crafts and trade flourished. The town was liberated from Ottoman rule on 29 January 1878.
Demographics
According to the 2024 census, the population of Kyustendil is 46 856 people.
Ethnic linguistic and religious composition
According to the 2011 census data, people who chose to declare their ethnic identity were distributed as follows:
-
Bulgarians: 36,732 (82.5%)
-
Roma: 5,179 (11.6%)
-
Turks: 2 (0.0%)
-
Others: 143 (0.3%)
-
Indefinable: 296 (0.7%)
Total: 44,513
Roma people are mainly concentrated within the town limits. In the meantime, about a fourth of Bulgarians live in the surrounding villages, also part of the Municipality of Kyustendil.
Religion
Kyustendil today belongs to the Sofia diocese in regards of Orthodox church-administrative structure. The city is the center of the vicarage and the Kyustendil Eparchy; in the past, Kyustendil was the seat of the diocese, that latter was closed in 1884. The majority of the urban population profess the Orthodox faith today.
There are several Christian denominations associated with Protestantism and a small Jewish community. During Ottoman Empire rule Kyustendil had a population mostly professing Islam, but of the many mosques of the time, now only two remain. Today the city has only Christian churches operating.
In Antiquity, Pautalia was a bishopric in the Roman province of Dacia Mediterranea, suffragan to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sardica, in the sway of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Its only recorded residential bishop was
-
Evangelius, who was summoned to Constantinople by Byzantine emperor Anastasius I Dicorus in 516 during the controversy against Monophysitism.
During the brief Late Medieval period, when the Bulgarian Church entered in full communion with Rome (instead of Orthodox Constantinople), one of its three 'Uniate Catholic' (equivalent to modern Eastern Catholic) sees was Velebusdus, which was even raised to a Metropolitan Latin Archbishopric as Pope Innocent III sent its incumbent Athanasius the archiepiscopal pallium on 25 February 1204.
Latin Titular see
The archdiocese was nominally restored in 1933 as Latin Metropolitan Titular archbishopric of Velebusdus (Latin) / Velebusdo (Curiate Italian) / Velesdien(sis) (Latin adjective).
It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Metropolitan (highest; perhaps some merely of intermediary Archiepiscopal) rank :
-
(1953.12.07 – death 1956.07.31) as emeritate and promotion; formerly Titular Bishop of Dadima (1927.02.25 – 1927.04.26) as Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Seckau (Austria) (1927.02.25 – 1927.04.26), succeeded as Bishop of Seckau (1927.04.26 – 1953.12.07)
-
Aston Chichester, Jesuit Order (S.J.) (1956.11.23 – death 1962.10.24) as emeritate, formerly Titular Bishop of Ubaza (1931.03.04 – 1955.01.01) as only Apostolic Vicar of Salisbury (then in (Southern) Rhodesia, now in Zimbabwe) (1931.03.04 – 1955.01.01) promoted as first Metropolitan Archbishop of Salisbury (now Harare, Zimbabwe) (1955.01.01 – 1956.11.23)
-
Antônio de Almeida Lustosa, Salesians (S.D.B.) (1963.02.16 – resigned 1971.03.16) as emeritate, formerly Bishop of Uberaba (Brazil) (1924.07.04 – 1928.12.17), Bishop of Corumbá (Brazil) (1928.12.17 – 1931.07.10), Metropolitan Archbishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil) (1931.07.10 – 1941.07.19), Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1941.07.19 – 1963.02.16); died 1976
-
Eugène Klein, Sacred Heart Missionaries (M.S.C.) (1971.06.05 – 1972.04.07) as Coadjutor Archbishop of Nouméa (New Caledonia) (1971.06.05 – 1972.04.07), succeeding as Metropolitan Archbishop of Nouméa (1972.04.07 – 1981); previously Titular Bishop of Echinus (1960.06.14 – 1966.11.15) as Apostolic Vicar of Yule Island (Papua New Guinea) (1960.06.14 – 1966.11.15), then Bishop of Bereina (Papua New Guinea) (1966.11.15 – retired 1971.06.05), died 1992
-
Peter Yariyok Jatau (1972.06.26 – 1975.04.10) as Coadjutor Archbishop of Kaduna (Nigeria) (1972.06.26 – 1975.04.10), next succeeded as Metropolitan Archbishop of Kaduna (1975.04.10 – retired 2007.11.16)
-
Enzio d'Antonio (1979.06.24 – 1982.05.13) as intermezzo : previously Archbishop-Bishop of Trivento (Italy) (1975.03.18 – 1977), Coadjutor Archbishop of Boiano–Campobasso (Italy) (1975.03.18 – 1977.01.31) succeeding as Metropolitan Archbishop of Boiano-Campobasso (1977.01.31 – 1979.06.24); later last Archbishop of Lanciano (Italy) (1982.05.13 – 1986.09.30), restyled first Archbishop of Lanciano–Ortona (Italy) (1986.09.30 – retired 2000.11.25)
-
José Manuel Estepa Llaurens (1983.07.30 – 1989.11.18) first as Archbishop Military Vicar of Spain (Spain) (1983.07.30 – 1986.07.21), restyled Archbishop Military Ordinary of Spain (1986.07.21 – retired 2003.10.30); later Titular Archbishop of Italica (1989.11.18 – 1998.03.07), created Cardinal-Priest of San Gabriele Arcangelo all'Acqua Traversa (2010.11.20 2011.04.29 – ...); previously Titular Bishop of Tisili (1972.09.05 – 1983.07.30) as Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid (Spain) (1972.09.05 – 1983.07.30)
-
Archbishop Gábor Pintér (2016.05.13 – ...), papal diplomat : Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus, no previous prelature.
Economy
The city is the center of light and manufacturing industry: logging, footwear, knitwear, ready-made clothes, toys, packaging, alcohol producers, bakery, printing and canning industries. There are companies for the production of condensers, power transformers, household and kitchen furniture and joinery. Hotels and tourism have evolved in recent years. The region has traditions in fruit growing and trade in fresh and dried fruits.
Kyustendil is a center of an agricultural area with centuries-old traditions in the field of fruit growing, which is why the town and its surroundings are known as the "Orchard Garden of Bulgaria".
Geography
Kyustendil is a national
balneological resort at an altitude of 600 metres. There are more than 40
in the town. The waters have a high content of
sulfite compounds. These are used for the treatment of the locomotory system,
gynecological and other kinds of diseases. The resort region includes several baths, balneological complexes and others.
Kyustendil is located at the foot of the Osogovo mountain, on both banks of the Banshtica River and is a well-known centre of balneology and fruit growing. The town is 90 kilometres southwest of Sofia, 69 km northwest of Blagoevgrad and 22 km from the border with North Macedonia and Serbia. The fortress was built by the Romans. Thermae, basilicas, floor mosaics have been uncovered.[Adrian Room, "Placenames of the World" McFarland & Company (2005)]
Climate
Kyustendil has a temperate climate with Mediterranean and continental influences (the nearby Struma River moderating extremes). The average annual temperature is approximately 10 °C (50 °F). The highest mean temperatures occur in July and August at about 20.4 °C and 20.7 °C (69 – 69 °F), respectively, while the coldest month is January with a mean near –1.0 °C (30 °F). The annual temperature range is therefore around 21.7 °C (39 °F). Summers remain warm and relatively long, and winters are shorter and cooler, with spring settling in by early March and autumn extending warmly into late November .Annual precipitation averages about 726 mm (28.6 in), spread over roughly 90 days with ≥ 1 mm of rainfall. Snowfall data are not systematically recorded in monthly normals, but historical records indicate an average of 10–12 snow days each winter (Wikipedia2). Sunshine totals near 1 130 hours per year, with the sunniest period in late summer and early autumn and the cloudiest in winter .Relative humidity hovers around 65–70 % overall, dipping lowest in the summer months (especially August). Wind speeds are modest, averaging 1.4 m/s (4.6 ft/s) annually, with spring as the windiest season and autumn the calmest. Occasional “foehn” gusts in winter and spring can cause rapid temperature rises.Temperature extremes remain notable: the record low of –22.4 °C (–8.3 °F) was observed on 20 January 1967, and the highest 43.2 °C (110 °F) on 24 July 2007.
Notable people
-
Theodore Ushev, animator, film director, screenwriter
-
Constantine Dragaš, 14th-century local Serbian ruler
-
Ilyo Voyvoda (1805–1898), hajduk, revolutionary and Bulgarian liberation fighter (died in Kyustendil)
-
Vladimir Dimitrov (1882–1960), painter
-
Dimitar Peshev (1894–1973), World War II Minister of Justice and Deputy speaker of the Parliament who prevented the deportation of the Bulgarian Jews to Nazi death camps
-
Todor Angelov (1900–1943), communist revolutionary and Belgian resistance fighter
-
Nikolay Diulgheroff (1901–1982), futurism artist
-
Marin Goleminov (1908–2000), composer
-
Irina Taseva (1910–1990), actress
-
Venelin Venev (1973- ), Director of the Bulgarian Defense Intelligence Service
Gallery
File:Kyustendil 25.jpg|The municipality hall (architect Friedrich Grünanger)
File:Kyustendil 34.jpg|The municipality hall
File:SvetiGeorgi.Kyustendil.1.jpg|10th-11th-century Church of St George in the Kolusha neighbourhood
File:Kyustendil 67.JPG|Timber-framed tower
File:FatihMehmetCami.jpg|Fatih Mehmet Mosque (15th century)
File:CifteHamamKyustendil.jpg|Cifte Spa Bath
File:Pirgova Tower Kyustendil Bulgaria TB.jpg|The 15th-16th-century Pyrgos Tower
File:Kyustendil TB (11).jpg|The Hisarlaka medieval fortress lying atop a hill overlooking the town
File:Kyustendil Town, Church of Saint Menas, Jan 2012.jpg|The Church of Saint Menas, built in 1859, situated in the west part of Kystendil.
File:Kyustendil Feb 2009 (2).JPG|Building in Kyustendil
See also
-
FC Velbazhd Kyustendil (Pautalia during World War II)
-
List of Catholic dioceses in Bulgaria
Sources and external links
- Bibliography - ecclesiastical history
-
Pius Bonifacius Gams, Series episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Leipzig 1931, pp. 417 e 432
-
Daniele Farlati-Jacopo Coleti, Illyricum Sacrum, volume VIII, Venece 1817, p. 77 e p. 246
-
Konrad Eubel, Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi, volume 1, p. 130
-
Jacques Zeiller, Les origines chrétiennes dans les provinces danubiennes de l'empire romain, Paris 1918, p. 160
