Revolutionary Petrana Obretenova

Petrana Tihova Obretenova was a Bulgarian teacher and revolutionary, known for her active participation in Bulgaria's national liberation movement.

She was born around 1845 in Ruse into the family of Tiho Obretenov and Tonka Obretenova. She was educated at the girls' school in her native town.

Petrana Obretenova played an important role as a trusted courier for the revolutionary committee, carrying secret correspondence, weapons and ammunition along the committee's route between Ruse and Giurgiu. In 1875 she sewed the battle flag of the Chervena Voda Detachment, which was passed to Hristo Botev's detachment after the failure of the Stara Zagora Uprising. The following year, during the April Uprising, she handed the flag to her brother Georgi Obretenov, who served in the detachment of Ilarion Dragostinov and Stoil Voivode.

During the Russo-Turkish War, Petrana worked as a nurse in the military hospital in Svishtov.

After Bulgaria's Liberation, she taught in various towns, including Oryahovo, Vratsa, Tutrakan and Lom. She settled in Varna in 1926.

Petrana Obretenova is also known for her philanthropy: she bequeathed her house to the Girls' High School in Ruse.

She died in Varna on 7 March 1932.