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

Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop leads the festive liturgy in town of Delchevo, Republic of Macedonia

This morning, in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the town of Delchevo, in the Republic of Macedonia, His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop led the holy liturgy, together with the superior of the Delchevo - Kamenichka..

published on 8/28/24 12:18 PM

Bulgarians mark the Assumption of the Theotokos feast in the old calendar

Today, August 28, Bulgarians in many parts of the country celebrate the Assumption of the Theotokos in the old style calendar along with almost the entire Orthodox world.  The Assumption of the Theotokos glorifies the immense love of the Mother of..

published on 8/28/24 9:01 AM

Unique ancient Thracian temple in Plovdiv can be completely restored

A Thracian temple from the 3rd century BC, unparalleled in Bulgaria, can turn 10 acres of Plovdiv's South region into an archaeological park. The site is located at the base of the Great Mound, which a team of the Plovdiv-based Regional Archaeological..

published on 8/23/24 11:45 AM