Vol. 90 No. 1 (1997): Annual of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" - Faculty of History

The double volume 89–90 of the Annual of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Faculty of History, presents studies tracing the cultural and political evolution of Bulgarian identity from Late Antiquity to the modern era. The contributions reflect the interdisciplinary orientation and methodological diversity of Bulgarian historical scholarship at the turn of the 21st century.

The opening article by Stanislava Stoycheva examines the cross symbols in the sepulchral painting of Serdica (4th–6th centuries) as a source for early Christianity, applying statistical and typological analysis to the archaeological evidence. Valeri Katsunov explores the formation and development of Bulgarian ethnic self-consciousness between the 7th and 10th centuries, focusing on linguistic and cultural identity in the early medieval period.

Petko Petkov analyses the role of the United States and President Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” in shaping post–World War I international relations and the idea of national self-determination. Two studies by Valeri Kolev address the socio-political tensions in interwar Bulgaria — the struggle between the Democratic Entente and the opposition for control over municipal government (1926–1931), and the housing question during the Entente’s rule.

The volume illustrates the continuity and pluralism of Bulgarian historiography, uniting archaeological, medieval, and contemporary political studies into a coherent intellectual panorama. It stands as a testament to the enduring academic tradition of the Faculty of History at Sofia University and its commitment to critical, evidence-based scholarship.