Born: 12 May 1815, Bulgaria
Died: 1894
Country most active: Bulgaria
Also known as: Анастасия Димитрова
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
She was born in Plevene. Her parents were poor, but very pious. At the age of seven years she was engaged as a servant at the Mitropolite Agapie where she quickly won the heart of the Mother Superior who adopted her. After thirteen years at the Mitropolite, Anastasie was sent to the monastery at Kalofer where she studied Greek and the Slavic languages, geography and other subjects. Ten years later she returned to Plevene, but was unable to find her benefactress. The Mitropolite carried out the last wishes of the dead Mother Superior, that they appoint her relative, the young Anastasie, as Doctor Directress. The first Bulgarian school for young ladies was founded near the Church of Saint Nicholas in 1870. The new enterprise was successful, its pupils coming from all neighboring towns. This school was of great cultural importance. Anastasie Dimitrova married a physician but her marriage was soon terminated by the death of her husband. However the knowledge of science, acquired from him, served to enlarge her social welfare activity. During the course of a half century she collaborated untiringly with every cultural innovation in Plevene.