Negotiating Humanity, Faith, and Freedom of Conscience in an Oppressive Space : A case study of Todor Enchev in Concentration and Labour Camps in late 1940’s-1950’s Bulgaria

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study is to investigate how Todor Enchev sustained and negotiated his humanity, faith, and freedom of conscience in prison, labour, and concentration camps in late 1940’s-1950’s Bulgaria. Through a hermeneutic study, this investigation analyses Enchev’s book From Spiritual Death to Eternal Life (1998). Having been imprisoned first as a teenager for his vocal political beliefs against the communist regime in Bulgaria and thereafter for his newfound Christian faith, this study examines his narrative. This study concludes that Enchev was ultimately sustained by a vision of a greater eternal dimension and new humanity, while viewing his current suffering as a mission set before him. This vision changed his self-awareness and allowed him to persevere. His focus remained on the communication, for him, between the eternal dimension of heaven and the earthly dimension of his present. This was expressed through his behaviour and attitude towards others in the camps, a period he referred to as a ‘spiritual university’. Through this, Enchev was able to identify as a contemporary disciple and martyr, giving him a sense of duty, which gave meaning to his time in the camps and beyond.