For the fourth time, the International Elias Canetti Society is organising a memorial service on November 2nd at 11.00 a.m. for the victims who were murdered without trial or judgement in the Baljuv Dol area, between the villages of Schtraklevo and Nisovo in the Ruse region.

This place is known for the tragic events during the night from the 2nd to the 3rd of November 1944, when dozens of members of Ruse’s intellectual and social elite were shot there. Among those killed were not only respected teachers, intellectuals and citizens, but also Tonka Obretenova-Prosenitchkova, granddaughter of Baba Tonka, and her husband Niko Prosenitchkov, headmaster of the Boys’ Grammar School in Ruse. The secret execution was carried out by the communist rulers and the militia, before and outside the framework of the so-called “People’s Court”, immediately following the coup d’état on the 9th of September 1944.

Following the brief commemorative ceremony, the book “Culinary History” will be presented at the venue. Published by the International Elias Canetti Society in 2026 as part of the Place CRAFT project, it breathes new life into the small notebook containing Tonka Prosenitchkova’s recipes. Who discovered the recipe book and how? Associate Professor Velislava Doneva, a lecturer at the Angel Kanchev University in Ruse, is supervising the dissertation of Kristina Angelova, who is studying “Bulgarian Language and History”. The topic Kristina is working on is “An investigation into the personal book collection of Niko Prosenitchkov”, the husband of Tonka Obretenova. During her research, she came across a notebook titled “Orhanie”, in which she discovered recipes written in French. She handed it over to Prof. Doneva, who realised that it would be of great interest. It is both culinary and historical in nature, as the recipes shed further light on the life of Tonka Prosenitchkova and her family. Those attending the commemorative event will be able to try sweets prepared using the recipes from the book.

For those who wish to attend the event but do not have their own transport, a shuttle bus will be available, departing at 10.45 a.m. from “Han Asparuch” Street, next to the Si Bank and opposite the flower stalls.

Detelina Kamenova