Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

It is also the day of the great victory at Klokotnitsa

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks Holy Forty Martyrs Day

Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs in Veliko Tarnovo
Photo: Library

On March 9, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates the day of the Holy Forty Martyrs. These are early Christian Armenian warriors, martyrs from the city of Sebase who died in the 4th century for their faith during the persecutions of Emperor Licinius.

According to popular belief, on this day the sun turns to summer and the weather warms up.
In the Bulgarian history, March 9, 1230 was the date of the battle at Klokotnitsa, when Tsar Ivan Asen II defeated and captured the invading Epirus ruler Theodore Comnenus. The Bulgarian tsar captured the whole family of Comnenus, and his numerous captured soldiers were released. In honour of the great victory, the tsar ordered the construction of a church to the Holy Forty Martyrs in the medieval capital the capital Tarnovo where he puts a commemorative inscription.



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

St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral celebrates its feast day

The Patriarchal Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky is celebrating its temple feast today. The cathedral, a symbol of the Bulgarian capital, was built "in gratitude to the Russian people for the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878". Who..

published on 11/23/24 7:05 AM

Delegations of all Orthodox Churches to arrive in Bulgaria for the 100th anniversary of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

On November 22 and 23, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church will solemnly celebrate the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the Patriarchal Cathedral "St. Alexander Nevsky" . For a century the cathedral has been "a witness to all the hopes and..

published on 11/22/24 6:05 AM

The Christian family strengthens our relationship with God

The Feast of the Epiphany - the entry of the Theotokos into the Temple - is one of the oldest and most revered feasts in the Orthodox world. It was introduced in Constantinople around the 8th century during the time of Patriarch Tarasius. It was six..

published on 11/21/24 7:30 AM