Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Today is All Souls’ Day, Meatfare Saturday

Photo: archive

On All Souls’ Day - Meatfare Saturday Orthodox Christians honour the memory of their dearly departed.

It is one of the special days on which the church has ordained that we remember the dead. All of these days fall on a Saturday. Church services are held on All Souls' Day followed by memorial ceremonies at which bread, wine and wheat are laid out, as well as the favourite food of the deceased. The priests thurify the food with incense and say the names of the departed. After the prayer the food is handed out with the words: God rest their souls.

People also hand out bread and wheat - a symbol of immortality - to friends and relatives. On this day the relatives of the deceased go to their graves to clean them, plant flowers and remember the good deeds of the departed. Then they pour red wine over the graves, a symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ, and light a church candle to honour their immortal souls.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Tsar Boris III (1894-1943)

Tsar Boris III Unifier remembered by his son Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

It is 131 years since the birth of Tsar Boris III, dubbed unifier. Boris Saxe-Coburg-Gotha found himself at the head of Bulgaria after the abdication of Tsar Ferdinand after the defeat of the country in World War I. The young monarch was crowned..

published on 1/30/25 6:10 AM

Ancient city Heraclea Sintica presented through 3D glasses at international tourist expos

The ancient city Heraclea Sintica is among Bulgaria's most attractive tourist sites presented at international tourist exhibitions in Vienna and Stuttgart , Katya Stoyanova, head of the project "Restoration, conservation and socialization of Heraclea..

published on 1/27/25 11:06 AM

Remains of Roman military facilities shed new light on life near Bulgaria's town of Lom on the Danube

Archaeological excavations in the Kaleto district of the Bulgarian town of Lom situated on the Danube River have revealed remains of Roman defensive facilities dating back to the 1st century AD .  Archaeologists prove that Lower Danube region..

published on 1/26/25 5:05 AM