Monument of Evlogi Georgiev and Hristo Georgiev

Evlogi Georgiev was a prominent Bulgarian businessman, banker, and philanthropist. He and his brother Hristo Georgiev made a significant financial contribution to the construction of the Sofia University’s main building. Hristo Georgiev was a rich Bulgarian who lived in the 19th century and was the brother of Evlogi Georgiev. He and his brother helped to finance the establishment of Sofia University in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. With tens of thousands of local and international students, the university was one of the most significant and up-to-date institutions of the period.

The two were born in Karlovo and attended their primary schooling there. Eulogi travelled to Galati /Romania/ in 1837, after a brief teaching stint, to start a commerce. Despite his youth, he soon established himself as one of the Balkans’ most accomplished businessmen and dealers. In 1842, his brother Hristo joined him, and the two of them extended their operations in Bucharest. Initially trading mainly in Bulgarian commodities (rice, furs), they later established law companies in London, Marseille, and other European cities, and even had their own merchant ship for the export of grains. They are also involved in banking.

The brothers were actively involved in the political life of the Bulgarian exodus to Romania. They are among the founders of the “Virtue Company,” which recruits Bulgarian volunteers to fight in the Crimean War, plans large-scale activities to promote Bulgarian education and culture, and supports a variety of Bulgarian schools, community centers, literary projects, and individual fellows. Hristo died at the age of 48 in 1872, but Eulogi survived to see Bulgaria’s freedom and maintained his traditional activities by contributing enormous quantities of money to monasteries, churches, and hospitals. The elder brother died in 1897, leaving a bequest of 6 million euros for his time. Golden leva towards the establishment and upkeep of the Higher School, which is now Sofia University “St. Constantine and Helena” Kliment Ohridski. The construction of the university’s principal building started in 1924, and it was solemnly dedicated on 16.XII.1934. “Vasil Levski,” the bronze figures of Sofia University’s founders and biggest donors – the brothers Eulogi and Hristo Georgievi – are erected. The sculptures are the creation of sculptor and architect Kiril Shivarov, who also created the lion’s figure on the Shipka monument and the fountain with sirens in Varna’s Sea Garden.