After returning to his home town he became a teacher in geography, history, French and Bulgarian as well as chairman of the local Chitalishte (reading club).

Immediately after the end of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) that resulted in the creation of a new liberated Bulgarian state, Velichkov returned to Pazardzhik.

Velichkov's home town became part of the newly formed state of Eastern Rumelia which remained a vassal to the Sultan.

Meanwhile Velichkov managed to study law in France (till 1881) and later, during Stefan Stambolov's rule in Bulgaria, painting in Florence, Italy.

Velichkov continued his political career with the People's party (Bulgarian: Народната партия) [1] and was minister on a number of times as well as ambassador in Serbia (1902-1904).