On June 18, 2025, a Golden Doctoral Diploma was awarded to Prof. DSc. Vladko Murdarov on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
The solemn speech at the ceremony was delivered by the head of the Institute of Slavonic Studies, Prof. Dr. Stefan Newerkla, who stressed that the jubilarian Prof. Murdarov, a recipient of the Gottfried von Herder Fellowship, was the author of 27 books and more than 1150 scientific articles in renowned international journals. As particularly valuable, he pointed out his books “Vienna and the Beginnings of Bulgarian Linguistics” (Виена и началото на българската езикословна наука ) (1988), “Viennese Slavic Studies and Bulgarian Linguistics. 1822-1839-1918” (Виенската славистика и българското езикознание. 1822-1839-1918) (1999), also translated into German, and “Viennese Slavic Studies and Bulgarian Philology. 1918-1938” (Виенската славистика и българската филология. 1918-1938) (2025). As a translator, Murdarov has presented to the Bulgarian audience, in addition to 150 plays by German and Swiss playwrights, more than 370 plays by Austrian authors, including Arthur Schnitzler, Robert Musil, Ödön von Horváth, as well as Elfriede Jelinek, Peter Handke, Peter Turrini, Thomas Bernhard, etc. It is a significant fact that these plays have been staged over the years in various theatres in Bulgaria and are still performed today.
The orator pointed out that the contribution of the jubilarian was highly appreciated in Austria, where he was a recipient of the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art (2001), of the Austrian State Prize for Literary Translation (2002), as well as the great Honour Badge for Merit to the Republic of Austria (2013). These state honours which are a testament not only to his outstanding scientific authority but also to his cultural selflessness – to his ability to build bridges between languages, worlds and people.
“With the award of the Golden Doctoral Diploma,” the speaker emphasized, “Europe’s oldest Institute of Slavonic Studies and the University of Vienna are honouring not only the personality of the jubilarian, Prof. DSc Vladko Murdarov, but also his modern idea of science: It is a science that knows no boundaries, that understands language as a bridge, that knows the past and faces the future.”
