Current News

Current News

Today is the feastday of ST. MENAS (also: Minas), St. Victor and St. Vicentius

Today is the feastday of ST. MENAS (also: Minas), St. Victor and St. Vicentius

11/11/2023 9:00:00 AM

Name day of everyone named Mina, Minka, Mincho; Victor, Victoria; Vikentij.

St.Menas (also: Minas) was a martyr under Diocletian, born about about 295. According to the Greek Acts, Menas, a Christian and an Egyptian by birth, served in the Roman army under the tribune Firmilian. When the army came to Cotyaeus in Phrygia, Menas hearing of the impious edicts issued against the Christians by the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian left the army, retired to a solitude in the mountains and served God by fasting vigils and prayer.

During tbe celebration of a great festival, Menas appeared in the midst of tbe populace in the circus, and fearlessly professed bis faith. He was led before tbe prefect Pyrrhus, cruelly scourged, put to torture and finally beheaded. His body was brought to Egypt and the martyr was soon invoked in many needs and afllictions.

The fame of the miracles wrought, spread far and wide and thousands of pilgrims came to the grave in the desert of Mareotis between Alexandria and the valley of Natron. For centuries Bumma (Karm-Abum-Abu Mina) was a national sanctuary and grew into a large city with costly temples a holy well, and baths. A beautiful basillca was erected by the Emperor Arcadius. Tbe cult was spread into other countries, perhaps by travelling merchants who honoured him as their patron. As a result of various vicissitudes the doctrinal disputes and the conquest of Egypt by the Arabians under Omar in 641 the sanctuary was neglected and ultimately forgotten. His feast is celebrated on 11 November.

Several saints of the name Menas were highly honoured in the ancient Church about whose identity or diversity much dispute is raised. Some came to the conclusion that Menas of Mareotis, Menas of Cotyaes, and Menas of Constantinople, surnamed Kallikelados, are one and the same person, that he was an Egyptian and suffered martyrdom in his native place, that a basilica was built over his grave which became one of the great sanctuaries of Christendom, that churches were built in his honour at Cotyaeus and Constaninople, and gave rise to local legends.

BIRTH OF THE HOLY MOTHER (also known as “Nativity of the Theotokos”)
According to the traditional celebration of the birth of the Holy Mother, on the eve of the holiday the ones that are sick and ailing should make a votive oath.
Anniversary of the Unification of Bulgaria
The Unification of Bulgaria was the act of unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and the then-Ottoman province of Eastern Rumelia in the autumn of 1885.
St Simeon,s Day
St Simeon,s Day
9/1/2024 8:00:00 AM
Name day of everyone named Simeon, Simona or Marta (although Marta would rather celebrate on March 1).
SEKNOVENIE / EQUINOX (also known as Black Saint John)
People honor this day as the Equinox (meaning even day, i.e. the length of the day equals the length of the night).
Anniversary of the death of Tsar Boris III
Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria (January 30, 1894 - August 28, 1943), originally Boris Klemens Robert Maria Pius Ludwig Stanislaus Xaver, son of Ferdinand I, came to the throne in 1918 upon the abdication ...
On August 27 1885 Aleko Konstantinov organized a group of 300 people who climbed the Cherni Vrah peak
Aleko Konstantinov - Keen tourist and founder of the tourism movement in Bulgaria – on August 27 1885 he organized a group of 300 people who climbed the Cherni Vrah peak 2290m (near Sofia), giving rise to the mass tourist organization.
SAMUEL, Prophet
SAMUEL, Prophet
8/20/2024 8:00:00 AM
The day of Prophet Samuel - Name day of everyone named Samuil.
 St. IVAN RILSKI (also known as St John of Rila)
St Ivan Rilski had lived in many places until he finally settled in the wonderful Rila Mountain where he founded a monastery that has been existing until now, for more than 1000 years.
SVETA BOGORODITSA (Holy Virgin Marys Day)
The Orthodox Church names this day Dormition of the Theotokos, also known in Eastern Orthodox world as Assumption Day or Holy Virgin Marys Day
Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ
August 6th, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ.