Current News

Current News

Today is PETKOVDEN (St. Petka Feastday)

Today is PETKOVDEN (St. Petka Feastday)

10/14/2023 8:00:00 AM

Name day of everyone named Paraskeva, Petko, Petyo, Petka, Petkana, Penka, Pencho.

One of the most loved Bulgarian Saints is St. Paraskeva (called Petka) who lived in Epivat the XI century. When she was a young girl she heard in church the words from the Gospel: “The one who wants to follow me must renounce from himself, must take his cross and follow me!”  These words of Jesus Christ moved deeply Petka. She pondered over them and decided to fulfill them.

After her parents passed away, Petka decided to dedicate her life to God and she settled in the Irakliiski monastery. She spent 5 years of fasting, praying and weeping there. When these 5 years rolled away, Petka left the monastery and went to the Holy lands of Palestine and settled in the Jordanian desert. Some time later she returned to her native town Epivat, but did not find any of her relatives alive. For two years she lived in the “St. Apostles” temple in Epivat where she spent her day and night in humble prayers.

Once while praying to God, her spirit was taken to the heavenly realm. The citizens of Epivat buried her as a foreigner outside the town. The place where her holy remains were buried became famous as a place of miracles: blind people started seeing again, crippled men started walking again, those suffering from incurable diseases recovered miraculously.

In the XIII century Ivan Asen II carried the holy remains of Petka Paraskeva to Turnovo. Later when the Turks conquered the Bulgarian capital the remains of the Saint were taken to Vidin. After the Turks took Vidin the holy remains were carried to Serbia. In 1521 Suleiman the Magnificent conquered Belgrade and sent the remains of the Saint to Constantinople (called Tzarigrad by the Bulgarians). A century later they were handed to the Romanian ruler Yo Vassilii. Even today the holy remains of the Saint rest in peace in the town of Iash, Romania.

Today the memory of St. Petka is honored in Eastern European countries. The day of her death, October 14, is the Feastday of several Bulgarian towns (Tvarditsa, Nova Zagora and Apriltsi).

 

Stefan Stambolov (1854 - 1895) was born on that day
He is the most enthusiastically praised and the most violently denounced politician in Bulgaria's modern history, and what could be a better proof that his extraordinary personality.
Tzar Peter, son of Simeon the Great died on that day in 969 year
Tzar Peter, son of Simeon the Great died on that day in 969 year.
ST. GREGORY the Theologian
ST. GREGORY the Theologian
1/25/2024 8:00:00 AM
Name day of everyone named Grigor, Grigorina, Grisha (which means "being on the alert, staying awake").
Gotse Delchev (1872-1903) was born on that date
"I conceive the world as a place for cultural competition between nations"
Today is Hugging Day
Today is Hugging Day
1/21/2024 8:00:00 AM
National Hugging Day is celebrated on January 21st of each year
PETLYOVDEN (Rooster’s Day)
PETLYOVDEN (Rooster’s Day)
1/20/2024 9:00:00 AM
Name day of everyone named Efthimios (Evtim, Euthim), (the name derives from the Sanskrit word "en", which designates infinity, the hidden god. Some people also interpret the name with the meaning of "kindliness")
Today is ATANASOVDEN (St. Athanasius Day)
Name day of everyone named Atanas, Atanaska, Nasso, Nacho, Tinka, Nasya, Totka.
Today is ANTONOVDEN (St. Anthony`s Day)
Name day of everyone named Anton (meaning priceless in Latin), Antonia, Antoanneta, Antoan, Andon, Doncho, Donka, Donna, Donny, Donyo, Tonyo, Tony.
YUZHNITSI - VERIZHNITSI FEASTDAY
YUZHNITSI - VERIZHNITSI FEASTDAY
1/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
That Feast Day is the first one of the group “Antonovden & Atanassovden” (in the period Jan.16-18) and acts as preparation to the next two larger holidays.
ST.TATIANA
ST.TATIANA
1/12/2024 9:00:00 AM
Name day of everyone named Tatiana or Tanya (coming from Latin with the meaning "the one who arranges").