Voivode Hrishtyan

Hrishtyan Voivode was a Bulgarian hajduk who led a small hajduk company.

The legend about him is widespread in the eastern part of the Stara Zagora district. It tells of his romantic exploits around the middle of the 17th century, roaming the Shipka Balkan Mountains with various groups of hajduks, including men from Gabrovo.

Local legends portray Hrishtyan Voivode as a hero and defender of the Bulgarians. To capture him, the Turks sent troops from Edirne. When the Turkish army arrived, Hrishtyan and his detachment fortified themselves on Medvenska Mogila. He sent his two sisters, Milka and Stanka, to the rock facing the village of Kolena to watch the company’s flag. If it flew, he was alive and well; if it fell, they were to flee to safety. Fighting continued for three days, but the detachment could not withstand the assault, and the flag fell. Milka and Stanka leapt together from the rock to preserve their honour and the voivode’s name. The rock was later called Milkina Stena in memory of their sacrifice.

Some accounts suggest that Hrishtyan Voivode may have been the last Bulgarian boyar, or a boyar’s son, whose lands were nearby. Legend says he died defending an old fortress in this area, while some sources place his death on Mount Medven (Medvenska Mogila) near the village of Hrishteni.