The seventh edition of the "St. Pimen Zografski" international student competition for drawing and creative writing has opened for entries from young talents in Bulgaria and abroad. The event began with a blessing from His Eminence Arseniy, metropolitan of Sliven.
The competition is run by the Burgas Centre for Support of Personal Development (CPLR), together with Burgas municipality and the Sunday school at St. Pimen Zografski church. It forms part of the city's cultural and spiritual calendar and every year draws in hundreds of children, sparking their interest in art, literature and Christian values. It also keeps alive the memory of St. Pimen Zografski, the patron of Bulgarian painters.
This year's theme is "St. Ivan Rilski the Miracle-Worker – protector of the Bulgarian people," marking 1,150 years since the saint's birth and 1,080 years since his death. The competition aims to get pupils interested in art, literature and Orthodox Christianity, and to encourage their creativity and love of art and of St. Ivan Rilski.
Entries are split into two categories – drawing, and creative writing, the latter covering essays or short stories.
The drawing category is open to pupils from grade 1 to grade 12, split into three age groups: grades 1-4, grades 5-7, and grades 8-12. Each pupil may submit only one drawing, while a school, club, chitalishte or creative group may submit up to five.
For the creative writing category (essay or short story), entrants are split into two age groups – grades 5-7 and grades 8-12. The writing must match the competition's theme, be doctrinally accurate, and follow correct spelling and punctuation.
Written entries must not exceed two typed pages. Organisers stress that paper copies should not be sent to CPLR Burgas. Every entry must include the author's full name, school or club, grade, the name of a supervising teacher or parent, and a contact phone number.
The deadline for both categories is 23 October 2026. Drawings must reach the organisers by that date at: "For the 'St. Ivan Rilski – protector of the Bulgarian people' competition," CPLR Burgas, 11 Rayna Knyaginya Street, Burgas 8000. Written entries must be emailed to the centre by the same date, 23 October 2026. Every entry must be accompanied by an application form, which can be downloaded from the CPLR Burgas website under "Administrative services."
A panel of Burgas artists and art teachers will judge the drawing category. A panel of Orthodox religion teachers, theologians and writers will judge the creative writing category.
Results will be announced on the CPLR Burgas website on 28 October 2026. Winners will receive their prizes on 30 October 2026 at 5pm at the Holy Virgin church in Burgas.