On 16 October 2026, Prof. Dimo Chesmedzhiev, DSc, and Chief Assistant Professor Dr Totka Grigorova of the Cyrillo-Methodian Research Centre at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (CMRC–BAS) delivered lectures to doctoral students from the Doctoral School of Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”. The training took place at the Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos at Bachkovo as an off-campus academic event marking the beginning of the new academic year.
Prof. Chesmedzhiev delivered a lecture entitled Christianity in the Rhodope Mountains, in which he discussed the history of Bachkovo Monastery and examined various artefacts preserved within the monastic complex.
Chief Assistant Professor Dr Totka Grigorova introduced the doctoral students to the world of monastic frescoes created in different historical periods, revealing the richness of their imagery and messages.