Current News

Current News

SVETA BOGORODITSA (Holy Virgin Marys Day)

SVETA BOGORODITSA (Holy Virgin Marys Day)

8/15/2024 8:31:00 AM

The Orthodox Church names this day Dormition of the Theotokos, also known in Eastern Orthodox world as Assumption Day or Holy Virgin Mary's Day, celebrated on August 15 each year.

It is is a name day for everyone named Maria, Mariana, Mara, Marcho, Mario.































































Assumption Day is a great traditional feast. Votive offerings are made and sick people spend the night at "holy places" to gain health. A ritual bread, and the first picked and church-consecrated fruits of the season - water melons, grapes, honey - are given out for good health and richer harvest. The proverb says “Till Holy Virgin Mary’s Day straw turns into wheat, and after Virgin Mary’s Day – the wheat turns into straw!” - therefore good farmers should complete the threshing by Holy Virgin Mary's Day.































































Until then every house makes a threshing-floor in the yard and traditionally it is round - so that evil forces do not affect the house. In the middle they set up the pillar – a thick post to which they tie the horses during threshing. Then they bring the sheaves from the field and put an unmarried young woman in the first cart but watch that she is not in her monthly period so that thewheat should remain clean. The man of the house feeds the oxen with "sporniche" - a special herb used for fertility. The woman of the house throws water from the well in front of the cart with a bucket decorated with a bunch of sweet basil, tied with a red thread, for the wheat to flow like water on the threshingfloor.































































They grind the new wheat on Virgin Mary’s Day. They make ritual breads from that flour and it is believed that if rain falls on that day, the next year will be very prosperous. For the festive meal they kill an ewe, which is ritually fed and incensed, like the one at St. George’s Day. The liver of the animal is boiled and brought to the church to be sanctified. The meat is prepared on a spit on open fire, then the neighbors exchange meat and banitsa for health, saying: “Let Virgin Mary help you!”































































In some regions, the day is also celebrated for the health of the oxen and, as on St. Vlasius’ Day, the woman of the house decorates their horns with buns, and feeds them ritually. Old legends advise to avoid touching anything red on that day to protect the cattle against bleeding and the young brides from barrenness. The festivities last till late at night. 

 

More on the Dormition of the Theotokos day: Wikipedia

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.
Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ
August 6th, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ.
MAKAVEYAN DAYS - August 1-12
MAKAVEYAN DAYS - August 1-12
8/1/2024 9:00:00 AM
The traditional holidays called "Makaveyan Days" last for 12 days - from August 1st to August 12th.