The climate and natural features of the Black Sea-Balkan region form the foundation of the post-flood civilization that emerged here. Numerous artifacts have been discovered, proving that many of the events described in the Old Testament Bible took place in these lands. One of the oldest Hittite inscriptions states: ‘IN THE PROMISED LAND, THE SUN – RA, RISES FROM THE SEA!’ It is reasonable to assume that these lands, on the Balkan Peninsula bordering the Black Sea, refer to this sacred place.

Today, the early culture that emerged here continues to reveal new evidence of the high level of knowledge and understanding our ancestors had of the surrounding world. Their cosmology is evident not only in their material culture but also in the numerous sanctuaries and temple mound structures preserved to this day. And that is not all! New research indicates that the cult of the divine male and female principles—the ONE COSMIC GOD BEARING THE WISDOM OF CREATION and the GREAT EARTH GODDESS-MOTHER NATURE—originated here.

The exceptionally rich natural environment, with its clearly defined seasons and Mediterranean influence on the continental climate, played a crucial role in the development of this unique early culture. In these lands, the first practices of agriculture and animal husbandry, ceramic crafts, metalworking, as well as the first production of bread and wine emerged. This is also where the first traditions of song creation and symbolic writing began.

The diverse terrain, ranging from rock formations and peculiar passages to high mountain peaks and rolling lowlands, has created conditions for an array of natural landmarks. But the greatest wealth of the Balkans, and especially in Bulgaria, lies in its abundant springs, streams, rivers, and lakes. They lend this Promised Land its almost constant green appearance.

In terms of the number and diversity of thermal-healing mineral springs, the land of roses and amber wine is unparalleled, not only in Europe but beyond. One of Bulgaria’s over 600 mineral springs is located on the southern, wooded slopes of Sarnena Gora, part of the Sredna Gora mountain range.
It is situated 14 km northwest of the city of Stara Zagora. This spring is closely linked to the ancient city of Thrace, which is over eight millennia old, and it is from this connection that the settlement gets its name. The Stara Zagora mineral baths are at an altitude of 360 meters, and from this location, the beautiful Suytlika River originates. Near these mineral springs, numerous pieces of evidence have been found showing that the thermal waters (36-51 °C) have been used by our most ancient ancestors since the earliest Neolithic period! The exceptionally valuable artifacts discovered at the settlement mound built near the springs vividly demonstrate that the springs have been in use for over nine millennia.
This settlement mound has been studied by several generations of renowned archaeologists, including R. Popov, M. Dimitrov, D. Nikolov, P. Kalchev, and others. They have established that the cultural layers found here are analogous to those of the world-famous, ancient settlement mound at the village of Karanovo in the Nova Zagora region.

At the Stara Zagora mineral baths settlement mound, which has a diameter of 110 meters and a height of 65 meters, anthropomorphic figures of humans and animals, as well as cult ceramic vessels with both functional artistic qualities, have been discovered. And that is not all! Fragments of melted copper ore were found in the mound, providing evidence that the population there was engaged in mining and metallurgy. This is no coincidence! The first metal extracted from mining in the world dates back to the Chalcolithic period and originates from the Mechi Kladenets area, located just 2 km from these springs.

What is particularly fascinating about the settlement mound of the Stara Zagora mineral baths is that, during the third millennium BC, it was transformed into a terraced cult complex. The mound was shaped with ritual platforms, starting from the eastern side and culminating at the top with a temple building! The terraces were formed with massive supporting walls arranged vertically. Each shaped stone block measures 60/60/90 cm. The bonding between these stone boulders is also impressive.
The reason for the transformation of this settlement mound into a cultic priestly complex has also been uncovered! With the establishment of Orphism as a healing religious practice focused on physical and spiritual purification, there was a shift in the human attitude toward the environment. According to the mythical healing practices of Orphism, all springs were declared sacred, and the flowing water within them was charged with positive vibrations. In this way, our ancient ancestors obtained what was called ‘living water’—water that changes its structure at the nano level and serves as an information carrier. The Thracians believed that the flowing ‘silent water’ was a gift from the Great Goddess—Earth Mother and Nature, which, when subjected to cosmic and especially priestly vibrations, acquired unearthly power and healing properties.

The same cultic practice can be observed and reinterpreted at the spring known as ‘BOGORODICHNA STAPKA’! It is located to the north, just 800 meters from the thermal mineral springs. Everything suggests that this natural megalithic phenomenon, which emits positive geomagnetic energy, was recognized by the Thracian priests as an Orphic sanctuary dedicated to the GREAT GODDESS MOTHER. The current name, ‘BOGORODITSA’, was understandably adopted with the establishment of Christianity in these lands. And that is not all! The key to deciphering this sanctuary lies in the massive, well-carved stone to the east. In the upper part of the stone, a trough of suitable dimensions and precise proportions has been formed, where, depending on the solar and lunar cycles, healing living water was produced to meet the needs of human life and culture. In any case, this stone-cult facility has little in common with the previous notion of an abandoned sarcophagus lid. However, future research, especially through new nanotechnologies, will undoubtedly reveal the types of charged water obtained from this specific shape of the stone trough, subjected to the influence of lunar and solar cosmic cycles.

It is time to revive the knowledge and wisdom encoded in ancient Thracian Orphism! The deciphered mystery of the life-giving vibrations inherent in these universally recognized ancient practices holds the key to liberating humanity from the shackles of today’s harmful societal model, which contines to create new Augean stables.

Over the past eight millennia, the STAROZAGORSKI MINERAL BATHS have proven their health benefits through their emerging thermal waters, and the natural setting remains an undeniable destination for relaxation for all. It is time to restore the bridge from the past to the future! This means we must once again rediscover the HEALTHY LIFE EXPERIENCE OF OUR ANCESTORS! This experience is the path to human happiness, founded on balance and harmony.

As Bulgarians, direct descendants of those who embraced the theosophical essence of the ONE CREATIVE GOD, or COSMIC INTELLIGENCE, we must honor our responsibility to preserve and protect every phenomenal natural wonder in our country—this Promised Land. New scientific discoveries and deciphered runic sign systems have proven that the spiritual essence in Tangrism, Orphism, and Christianity share common ritual traditions, all expressed in the TRINITY OF HEAVEN AND EARTH! Thus, we must identify the ‘barbarians’ among us—those who have forgotten the covenant and now serve evil!

There are no coincidences in the words of the great Dutch researcher, Prof. Harry Salman, our contemporary: ‘I BELIEVE THAT BULGARIAN LAND IS THE CULTURAL TREASURE OF EUROPE, AND BULGARIA WILL BECOME THE SPIRITUAL SANATORIUM OF THE WORLD!!!’ /1999/

So it is, and so it shall be—not only at the Stara Zagora mineral baths but throughout Bulgaria, as foretold, ‘SO THAT THERE MAY BE LIFE ON EARTH’!!!

18/07/2010 HRISTO TANEV
Stara Zagora