Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Epiphany blessing of Bulgarian Army battle flags

Photo: BGNES - library

Today at 11.00 in front of the Monument of the Unknown Soldier in Sofia the traditional Epiphany Blessing of the battle flags of the Bulgarian Army takes place. The ritual will be attended by the Minister of Defense Krassimir Karakachanov, the Ministry of Defense reported.

For the first time blessing of the flags with holy water took place under the rule of Tsar Simeon I in 917 before the battle with the Byzantines at the Aheloy River. Since then, water consecration was performed before each battle of the Bulgarian army until the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman rule.

After the Liberation, the tradition was restored by the first Minister of War of the Principality of Bulgaria, Pyotr Parensov, and lasted until 1946. After the democratic changes, the ritual was restored once again in 1993.



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

Bulgaria seeks South Korean cooperation on new nuclear projects, energy minister says

Bulgaria wants to continue investing in nuclear energy after more than 50 years of experience in the sector, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said on Wednesday. About 70% of Bulgarians support the move, Stankov told a Bulgarian-Korean energy..

published on 10/30/25 2:04 PM

Swiss Gunvor Group may acquire Lukoil's Burgas-based refinery in package deal with the Russian company

The Russian oil company Lukoil has announced that it has accepted an offer from the Swiss Gunvor Group to acquire the international assets of LUKOIL International GmbH . Lukoil's subsidiary owns all of the group's assets abroad. Lukoil has..

published on 10/30/25 11:40 AM

GERB leader supports resignation of anti-mafia commission chief

MPs elected GERB's Kostadin Angelov as deputy speaker of parliament. 132 MPs voted "for", 53 voted "against" and 11 abstained. Angelov replaces GERB's Raya Nazaryan, who was elected speaker of parliament after previous parliamentary speaker Natalia..

published on 10/30/25 10:30 AM