Paisii Hilendarski (1722-1773), often referred to as Father Paisii, is a Bulgarian teacher and clergyman, author of "Slavonic-Bulgarian History". Monk, principal, first historiographer of Bulgaria. His ideas of national revival and liberation of the Bulgarian population, expressed in his work, make many scientists point to him as the founder of the Bulgarian revival.

He notes that he went to Mount Athos in 1745, at his brother Lavrentius in the Hilendar Monastery. There he begins to collect data about his story, often travels, collects donations and leads pilgrims to the monastery. In 1762 he moved to the Zograf Monastery, where he found favorable conditions for finishing his book. History' draft is preserved today in the monastery' library. He is a man with a keen mind, craving for knowledge, devoted himself to the spiritual rise of his people. He was canonized for a saint with a written act of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in 1962.