Totyu Totev graduated Theology at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" in 1956. He worked as a Research Fellow in Medieval Archaeology for more than 30 years at the Archaeological Institute in Shumen, a subsidiary of BAS. He was in charge of excavations and surveys in Pliska, Preslav and other monuments from the age of the First Bulgarian kingdom. His contribution to the study of culture and art of Preslav as well as of old Bulgarian material and spiritual creativity in IX-X century is essential. Since 1990 he has been a university professor and lecturer in biblical archeology and church, Christian art, medieval Bulgarian culture and history of Byzantium in Shumen University "Bishop Konstantin of Preslav." From 1992 to 1995 he was Dean of the Faculty of Bulgarian philology, history and theology and from 1996 to 2000 - University Rector of Shumen University. He reads lectures on religious Christian art and archeology there, at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski "and at the Free University of Varna. He is the author of 10 monographs and of more than 200 scientific papers and articles. He is also a winner of the order of "St. Cyril and Methodius" First Class, as well as of "Stara Planina" First Class."