The second day of the Ressurection of Christ (Easter Monday) marks the beginning of the Bright Week, also known as Pascha Week and Renewal Week. The week is called bright, because the Resurrection of Christ symbolizes enlightenment. During the Bright Week, the Orthodox Church venerates the Holy Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
These seven days bring enlightenment and hope of eternal life after the Resurrection of the Savior who atones for the sins of mankind. Easter Monday is considered the new beginning in our lives, a complete merging with God.
The Bright Week continues until Thomas Sunday, which honors the memory of Saint Thomas the Apostle, called Doubting Thomas because he did not believe in the miracle of the Resurrection and asked for proof.
In folk tradition, the day is associated with the custom of "Egg Rolling" for protection against hailstorms and for fertility. For this purpose, girls and boys would stand in a field and roll red eggs.
At sunset on December 25, the Jewish community begins to celebrate Hanukkah. The holiday begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar and, depending on the year, can fall in November or December. By lighting 9..
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas with solemn services. The festive services began on Christmas Eve, when the church held a solemn vigil. Hundreds of laypeople gathered at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, where..
This year, the holiday of Christmas for the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese in the United States, Canada and Australia is especially exciting! Metropolitan Joseph’s long-standing prayers to have his own vicar bishop have come true. His previous..
Vasil Levski is a Bulgarian revolutionary and national hero who fought for the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. He is an..
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