Petar Dimkov
Before he became known as the Healer, Petar Dimkov wore an officer’s uniform. He served in the army, fought in the wars and rose to colonel while collecting folk remedies. His books on traditional healing later found a place in many Bulgarian homes.
Reviewed on
| Military rank | Colonel from 1931 |
|---|---|
| Main work | Bulgarian Folk Medicine |
| Died | 4 October 1981 |
Military service
Sofia’s museum traces his training in St Petersburg. Radio Bulgaria recounts his service in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. In 1933, Dimkov helped protect Levski’s birthplace in Karlovo. He entered the reserve in 1936.
His books and beliefs
His three-volume work on folk medicine appeared in the 1930s. Dimkov connected physical wellbeing with spiritual life and nature. He met Peter Deunov in 1939 and became a follower. These beliefs belong to his biography; the books’ popularity does not establish the effectiveness of every practice they describe.
His voice in BNR’s Golden Fund
BNR preserves an excerpt from his last radio interview, recorded in April 1981, in which Dimkov discusses Levski. The recording adds his voice and manner of telling a story to the written biography.
Folk healers
Continue with another life story
Photographs and authors
- Ivan Raev: BNR · Unidentified author