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

Water blessing of the battle flags to take place across Bulgaria on Epiphany

Photo: BTA

A traditional water blessing of the battle flags and holy flags of the Bulgarian Army will be held on January 6 in all the country's garrisons. The ceremonial ritual in Sofia will take place at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Unknown Warrior Monument in the presence of Defense Minister Todor Tagarev.

For the first time, a water blessing ceremony of the banners was celebrated during the time of Tsar Simeon I before the battle of Acheloi in 917. Until the fall of Bulgaria under the Ottoman rule, a water blessing of the flags was performed before every battle fought by the Bulgarian army. After the Liberation in 1878, the tradition was restored by the first military minister of the Principality of Bulgaria, Piotr Dmitrievich Parensov, and continued until 1946, according to the Ministry of Defense. 

After the collapse of the Communist rule, the ritual was restored in 1993. 

Since then, every year on Epiphany, in all garrisons, the highest representative of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the diocese reads a prayer for health and success, together with the consecration of the battle flags.



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

Weather forecast: Temperatures start to creep up over the weekend

On Saturday minimum temperatures will range between 10° C.  and 19° C., for Sofia 10° C.  During the day there will be sun with cumulus clouds after midday, and rain and thunder in some parts of the mountain regions of Southern Bulgaria. There will..

published on 7/18/25 6:35 PM
Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy Tommy Joyce (left to right).

The Energy Minister: The USA is a powerful ally on key regional projects.

A Bulgarian delegation led by Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov held a series of meetings with representatives of the US State Department and the Department of Energy in Washington . The discussions centred on strengthening the strategic partnership..

published on 7/18/25 6:16 PM

Bulgaria and North Macedonia confirm commitment to finalize Corridor 8

At a meeting in Brussels between officials from the transport ministries of Bulgaria and North Macedonia, the two countries confirmed their commitment to finalizing the missing railway sections of Corridor 8, the Ministry of Transport has announced...

published on 7/18/25 4:54 PM