Бегалски спомени

Fugitive Memories (Бѣгли спомени) is a collection of memoirs by Andrey Toshev, published by the Macedonian Scientific Institute in Sofia in 1931. Some of the memories were previously published in the journal "Misul", while others appear for the first time. The book focuses on the "epic struggles of the Macedonian Bulgarian for freedom and an independent life" against Ottoman rule. Toshev notes that during this time, the Bulgarian population enjoyed significant cultural and educational rights, freely attending churches and schools in their mother tongue, and that Macedonia had surpassed the then-Serbian kingdom in this regard. He also acknowledges that the Turks were extremely tolerant of the nationality and cultural rights of their subjects.

The author contrasts this historical period with the situation at the time of writing, where he states that there are no Bulgarian churches or schools in Macedonia, "the most Bulgarian land, the homeland of the Slavic apostles St. Cyril and Methodius". He claims that all religious and educational institutions, where "conscious Macedonian Bulgarians" once worshipped and studied in their native language, have been forcibly converted into Serbian and Greek ones. Under threat of "medieval punishments," the name 'Bulgarian' cannot be mentioned in Macedonia. According to the new "conquerors," there are only "real Serbs" and "Slavic-speaking Greeks".

Despite the "tyrannical regime" and "anti-human measures for denationalization," Toshev believes that the Macedonian Bulgarian, proud and with a strong national feeling, will not bow to modern tyrants and will never renounce his ancestry. He asserts that the guarantee for the salvation of this "bright Bulgarian past" lies in perseverance and patience. The author concludes by stating that the spirit of indestructible truth will triumph over injustice, breaking the "desperate attempts of Serbs and Greeks to de-Bulgarize Bulgarian Macedonia".