On Wednesday, 12 November 2025, the T. G. Masaryk Czechoslovak Club in Sofia hosted a commemorative evening dedicated to the memory of the Prošek brothers—remarkable figures in both Czech and Bulgarian history during the second half of the nineteenth century. Born in Beroun, Central Bohemia, Jiří (Georgi) Prošek and Theodor (Bogdan) Prošek are remembered not only for their significant contributions to the Bulgarian National Revival and the country’s struggle for independence, but also as pioneers who helped establish several key industries in the newly independent Bulgarian state.
As Nikola Tsokev, a direct descendant of the Prošek family and the evening’s host, remarked:
“The Prošek brothers dreamed of the same future for the Czech Republic that Bulgarians dreamed of for Bulgaria—a free nation. Unlike the Czechs of that time, however, they found in Bulgaria the opportunity to make that dream a reality, perhaps not for their own homeland, but for a nation they felt was very close to their own.”
The programme featured a screening of a documentary about the brothers’ lives and legacy, followed by a musical performance by the talented young pianist Angel Yalachkov. The evening concluded in a warm and friendly atmosphere, with draught beer and light refreshments served to guests.
The event was very well attended and received an enthusiastic response. Among those present were the Ambassador of Slovakia to Bulgaria, Vasil Grivna, and the Mayor of Sofia’s Sredets District, Traycho Traykov.
The Prošek Brothers: A Historical Background
Jiří (Georgi) Prošek was born on 25 December 1847 in Beroun to a shoemaker father and a pianist mother. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Prague Polytechnic Institute. During his studies, he became acquainted with several young Bulgarians, including Ivan Drasov, one of the closest friends of the revolutionary poet Hristo Botev. He also developed a friendship with the revolutionary Petar Iv. Berkovski, who introduced him to the Bulgarian language.
After graduating in 1869, Jiří Prošek travelled to Bulgaria, where he settled in the village of Almali (today Yabalkovo) together with a group of Czech and Polish engineers. There, he established close ties with members of the local secret revolutionary committee. Together they founded the Slavic House, which included both a school and a library. Under the guise of educational activities, Prošek also established the first international secret revolutionary committee. Like the Bulgarian patriots of the time, he longed to see the Bulgarian people liberated from centuries of Ottoman rule.
In 1876, Prošek began working as a correspondent for several European newspapers, helping to inform the rest of Europe about the events unfolding in Bulgaria.
He also took an active part in the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation. Together with like-minded associates, he dismantled around 200 kilometres of railway track near Edirne (Adrianople), preventing the Ottoman army from redeploying its forces to the Shipka Pass in time. This action played a significant role in the outcome of the battle.
Following Bulgaria’s liberation, Jiří Prošek settled in Sofia, where he became the first parliamentary stenographer of the National Assembly. He was a founding member of the Slavic Literary Society (Slavyanska Beseda) and the Czech Association (established in 1892). He also edited the magazine Czech Sokol for a period and co-founded both the Sokol Hunting Club and the Bulgarian Association of Engineers and Architects.
His younger brother, Theodor (Bogdan) Prošek, born in 1858 in Beroun, arrived in Bulgaria in 1878. In 1884, the two brothers built what was then the most modern brewery in the Balkans—the first building in Bulgaria to be equipped with electricity and its own power generator.
The Prošek brothers also established Sofia’s first printing house, where newspapers were printed alongside official documents for the royal court and government institutions.
Among the family’s most enduring achievements are Eagle Bridge (Orlov Most) and Lion’s Bridge (Lavov Most) in Sofia, both of which were constructed with the involvement of their cousin, Václav Prošek.
The Prošek brothers both passed away in 1905, only one month apart. They are buried in the Central Catholic Cemetery in Sofia.
Source: This content was originally published on mzv.gov.cz.
