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TheGolden Age ofBulgaria is the period of theBulgarian cultural prosperity during the reign of emperorSimeon I the Great (889—927).[1] The term was coined bySpiridon Palauzov in the mid 19th century. During this period there was an increase ofliterature,writing, arts,architecture andliturgical reforms.
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Simeon I achieved spectacular military and political successes, expanding Bulgarian territory and forcing theByzantine Empire to recognise the imperial title of the Bulgarian monarchs.[2] The capitalPreslav was built in Byzantine fashion to rivalConstantinople. Among the city's most remarkable edifices were theRound Church, also known as the Golden Church, and the imperial palace. At that time was created and painted Preslavianpottery, which followed the most prestigious Byzantine models. A chronicle of the 11th century testified that Simeon I had builtPreslav for 28 years.
Simeon I gathered around himself the so-calledSimeon's circle, that included some of the most prominent literary authors in medievalBulgaria. Simeon I himself is alleged to have been active as a writer: works that are sometimes credited to him includeZlatostruy (Golden stream) and two of Simeon (Svetoslavian) collections (first intranscript of 1234, and the second - in 1299).[1]
The most important genres wereChristian edifying oratoryeulogies,lives of saints,anthems andpoetry,chronicles, and historical narratives. Remarkable works includeHexameron byJohn Exarch,Didactic Gospel (including theAlphabet prayer) byConstantine of Preslav,An Account of Letters byChernorizets Hrabar. The names of the other authors of Simeon circuit wereTudor Dox,Prester John andPrester Gregory but none of their works are preserved. They were all venerating the liturgy inOld Bulgarian language and theCyrillic script created inBulgaria few years before the reign of Simeon I, during the reign of his fatherBoris I of Bulgaria.Clement of Ohrid andNaum of Preslav created (or rather compiled) the new alphabet which was calledCyrillic and was declared the official alphabet in Bulgaria in 893. TheOld Bulgarian, also called Old Church Slavonic, language was declared as official in the same year. In the following centuries the liturgy inBulgarian language and alphabet were adopted by many otherSlavic peoples andcounties.