Roman emperor Constantine the Great (AD 306 to 337) introduced the Christian religion as official in the Byzantine Empire. His mother, Helena, discovered the cross on which the Savior was crucified and built several monasteries in the Holy Land. The discovery of the Cross is considered the most important event in the history of Christendom, and Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena were canonized as saints.
In Bulgarian folk customs, the feast intertwines the traditions of Christianity with pagan traditions of dancing on live coals - the Nestinari dance. It is preserved to this day in some areas, in its original form. In many places it is also performed as a show for tourists.
Preparations begin a few days before the holiday. Donations are collected for a common kurban soup, as well as for cleaning and maintaining the springs and wells in the village. A large pile of firewood is prepared in the village square. It is lit in the evening of the feast and, as everyone gathers around the huge fire, musicians begin to play ritual melodies. When the fire dies down, the embers are scattered in a circle. Horo chain dances are danced around it, with the icons of St. Constantine and St. Helena at the head.A group of Bulgarian scientists is leaving today for the Republic of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe . On the initiative of the Explorers Club Bulgaria, the researchers will research into the origins of Homo sapiens in these places. The..
Today, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the holy great martyr Varvara - a maiden from a noble family, beheaded for her Christian faith at the beginning of the 4th century. The day is also called Women's Christmas . This name comes from..
On November 30, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Apostle Andrew . In Bulgaria the saint is known as Saint Andrey and the folk holiday as Andreevden . Saint Andrew’s Day gives the start to the series of winter holidays..
+359 2 9336 661