Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 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

Atanas Atanasov

Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria to nominate Atanas Atanasov for president of the National Assembly (UPDATE)

The Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) are to nominate the party’s leader Atanas Atanasov for president of the 51 st National Assembly. According to BNR sources, the decision was made by the party’s national leadership and will be put to..

updated on 11/30/24 3:24 PM

GERB will not sign PP/DB’s declaration for a cordon sanitaire around Delyan Peevski, Boyko Borissov says

During the regional GERB youth academy in Targovishte, GERB leader Boyko Borissov stated that GERB would not sign the declaration of We Continue the Change/Democratic Bulgaria (PP/DB) for a cordon sanitaire around Delyan Peevski. PP/DB calls..

published on 11/30/24 3:17 PM

Protest in Velingrad in support of farmers with flocks which tested positive for sheep and goat plague

A protest took place in Velingrad in support of the farmers whose flocks of sheep have been quarantined because of positive tests for sheep and goat plague. To stop the spread of the disease, access to the area around the farms has been..

published on 11/30/24 1:10 PM