In 970, the Byzantine emperor John I Tzimiskes transplanted 200,000 Armenian Paulicians to Europe and settled them in the neighbourhood of Philippopolis (today's Plovdiv, Bulgaria). Under Byzantine and then later Ottoman rule, the Armenian Paulicians lived in relative safety in their ancient stronghold near Philippopolis, and further northward. Linguistically, they were assimilated into the Bulgarians, by whom they were called pavlikiani (the Byzantine Greek word for Paulician). In 1650, the Roman Catholic Church gathered them into its fold. Fourteen villages near Nicopolis, in Moesia, embraced Catholicism, as well as the villages around Philippopolis. A colony of Paulicians in the Wallachian village of near Bucharest also followed the example of their brethren across the Danube.
in 970 the byzantine emperor john i tzimiskes transplanted 200000 armenian paulicians to europe and settled them in the neighbourhood of philippopolis (today's plovdiv bulgaria) under byzantine and then later ottoman rule the armenian paulicians lived in relative safety in their ancient stronghold near philippopolis and further northward linguistically they were assimilated into the bulgarians by whom they were called pavlikiani (the byzantine greek word for paulician) in 1650 the roman catholic church gathered them into its fold fourteen villages near nicopolis in moesia embraced catholicism as well as the villages around philippopolis a colony of paulicians in the wallachian village of near bucharest also followed the example of their brethren across the danube