On July 27, along with St. Clement of Ohrid and the Seven Saints (known as Sveti Sedmochislenitsi), the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the memory of Greatmartyr St. Panteleimon. His name means "all-compassionate". The saint was known among people as a healer, selflessly helping the poor and ill.
After accepting Christianity he received the gift of healing and doing miracles. St. Panteleimon was killed after severe torture in 305 during the reign of Emperor Maximilian.
Today many Bulgarian churches and monasteries bear the name of St. Panteleimon. The saint is also a patron of a large number of hospitals, medical centers and other health facilities.
In folk beliefs he is also known as Pantelei, Pantelei Traveler and others. In the past people thought that on the day of St. Panteleimon storks started gathering in flocks to prepare for a long flight to warm countries.
It is also believed that St. Panteleimon protects people from diseases and can cure the sick. On this day, In Strandzha the sick used to light candles on fig trees and collected the dew from the leaves to drink it for health. In the region of Belogradchik people believed that on this day they could drive away infectious diseases such as plague and measles.
Folk beliefs related to the saint also include the popular notion that he is the patron saint of summer storms, torrential rains and floods. That is why he is also called "Water Pantelei". In the past, women prepared cakes and distributed them in his honor so that there would be no hail, storms, floods...
English: Alexander Markov
Archaeologists have discovered a very rare and valuable glass bottle in a 2nd-century tomb in the southern necropolis of the Roman colony Deultum near the village of Debelt (Southeastern Bulgaria). What makes it unique is that it depicts the myth of..
The Days of Croatian Archaeological Heritage, which will last until 8 November, begin today at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NAIM-BAS) in Sofia. The event is organised by the Croatian Embassy in..
Today, 6 November, marks 104 years since the annexation of the Western Outlands in 1920. Traditionally Bulgarian territories in south-eastern Serbia and northern Macedonia were ceded to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1920 as a result of..
On November 22 and 23, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church will solemnly celebrate the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the Patriarchal Cathedral "St...
The Patriarchal Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky is celebrating its temple feast today. The cathedral, a symbol of the Bulgarian capital, was built "in..
Partly Cloudy