Nikolai Rainov

Nikolai Rainov (Bulgarian: Николай Райнов) (1889–1954) was Bulgarian writer, poet, artist and scholar. He was one of the most remarkable East European modernists.

Nikolai Rainov was born on January 1, 1889 in Kesarevo, Veliko Tarnovo Province, Bulgaria.

In 1908 Rainov graduated from Sofia Theological Seminary. He was offered a scholarship from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to continue his studies in Theology in Russia or to study Philosophy in Germany. However, the offer was under the condition Rainov get ordained, which he refused. In 1911 he enrolled into Sofia University to study Philosophy. After serving as war correspondent during World War I in 1919 he graduated from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia.

In 1919 Rainov started an extensive journey to the East. In particular, he visited Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Asia Minor and, according to some sources, India.

In 1922-1927 Rainov was Senior Librarian in Ivan Vazov National Library in Plovdiv.