site.btaBurgas Commemorates Benefactor Alexander Georgiev - Kodzhakafalia

The 111th anniversary of the death of Alexander Georgiev - Kodzhakafalia was commemorated on Monday in Burgas (on the Black Sea coast) with a presentation of flowers and wreaths in front of the monument of the great Burgas benefactor, located next to the school that bears his name.

The ceremony was organized by Burgas Municipality and was attended by Burgas Deputy Mayor Diana Savateva, Municipal Council Chair Mihail Hadzhiyanev and municipal councillors from various political parties, as well as residents of the city. "I hope that many people will remember Kodzhakafalia today, because what is a city without its memory", said Savateva. She added that one of the main lessons that can be drawn from Georgiev's life is that it is important to overcome one's ego and be useful to the young generations.

Savateva also noted that the city administration is planning to make a replica of the authentic monument of Kodzhakafalia and place it near its original location on Aleksandrovska street. "I am sure that we will have not only an artistic sculpture, which is made according to the only surviving photograph of him, but we will also have the restoration of the tombstone next to the monument," she added.

Ruska Ahmakova, a relative of Kodzhakafalia from his native village of Zidarovo, was also present at the ceremony. She told stories about his life, which she has also included in her book called Kodzhakafalia's Childhood. Ahmakova emphasized that everything Kodzhakafalia owned, he had accumulated with a lot of hard work, persistence, resourcefulness, knowledge of several languages ​​and modest lifestyle. According to her, he was the biggest benefactor not only in Burgas, but also in all of Bulgaria. 

"The very fact that we remember and honour him to this day shows the greatness of this man who deserves the honour of having his name carried from generation to generation. He achieved his immortality with the decision to bequeath almost all of his wealth to his city and the residents of Burgas. There are not many such examples in Bulgarian history", wrote Mayor Dimitar Nikolov on the official page of Burgas Municipality.

Alexander Georgiev, known by the nickname Kodzhakafalia [meaning "big head" in Turkish - he received the nickname due to his remarkable memory], was a Bulgarian entrepreneur, born in 1890 in the village of Zidarovo, near Burgas. He is known as one of the biggest benefactors in the history of Burgas, who has helped the development of the city and donated BGN 25 million to over 600 poor families in need, most of which Bulgarian refugees from the Ottoman Empire. Before his death on July 15, 1913, he bequeathed most of his wealth to the city of Burgas.