On January 18, the Orthodox Church revers the memory of St. Athanasius the Great. According to popular belief, St. Athanasius is a patron of winter storms. On horseback, donned in a silk shirt, goes St. Athanasius into the forest and yells, “Go away, yo, winter, come, thee, summer!” And according to the Bulgarian popular belief, he does that each year on January 18, and that is why it is known as the Winter Atanasovden or Amidst Winter in the popular calendar.
It is said that from January 18 the day begins to grow by one millet seed. In some regions of the country people used to believe that plague was born on this day. To protect themselves from the deadly disease, people used to sacrifice a black hen to prepare a ritual meal.
Atanas, Atanaska, Nasko, Tina, Tinka, Tanyu, Taska celebrate their name day today.
An intact grave of a young woman dating to the beginning of the 2nd century AD has been discovered by archaeologists near the village of Kapitan Petko Voivoda, Topolovgrad Municipality announced. The team that made the discovery is led by Daniela Agre..
On October 14, the Bulgarian Orthodox church pays homage to Saint Paraskeva, also called St. Petka of Tarnovo and the day is known in Bulgaria as "Petkovden". Saint Petka was born in the 11th century in the town of Epibat, on the Sea of..
On 19 October 2025, the day on which Orthodox Bulgarians commemorate St Ivan Rilski the Miracle-Worker, the newly renovated St Ivan Rilski Church in Chicago will officially reopen its doors. Named after Bulgaria’s heavenly patron , the church will host..
On 16 April 1879, the deputies of the Constituent Assembly debated, approved and signed Bulgaria’s first constitution, the Tarnovo Constitution. This..
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