Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Rozhen Monastery marks its patron saint's day

Today, the Rozhen Monastery "Nativity of the Theotokos" will celebrate its patron saint's day with a procession with the miraculous icon of "Theotokos – Portaitissa" and a blessing of the sacrificial (kurban) meal.

The monastery lost its independence in 1761 and became subordinate to the Monastery of Iviron. It received a copy of the miraculous icon of "Theotokos – Portaitissa". The legend has it that the original icon was painted by Luke the Evangelist. Its copy was made in 1790 by icon-painter Jacob Iversky.

Unlike other copies, the one donated to the Rozhen Monastery is made of sacred iron and is surrounded by ten small compositions depicting its healing miracles. Every year, on the eve of the feast, many worshippers from Bulgaria and abroad offer gifts to the icon of the Virgin Mary and spend the night in the church.

The "Nativity of the Theotokos" is the largest monastery in the Pirin region. It is believed to have been established in the 13th century, as evidenced by Greek manuscript copies.




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

Eurostat survey: Bulgarians are among the most dissatisfied people in the EU

With a rating of 5.9, Bulgarians are the most dissatisfied people in the EU, according to data from a Eurostat survey for 2023. In the survey, people in the EU rated their overall life satisfaction on a scale from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very..

published on 10/17/24 9:39 AM

Trakia Economic Zone attracts new investors

The Japanese company "Tri-Wall Bulgaria" is among the newest investors in the Trakia Economic Zone. Representatives of the company officially announced their investment during a visit by caretaker Minister of Innovation and Growth Rosen..

published on 10/17/24 9:10 AM

Bulgaria has the largest natural juniper forest in Europe

"Exactly 75 years ago, in 1949, the largest natural stand of Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa) in Europe, the Tisata, at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, was declared a nature reserve. Greek juniper is a southern protected relict species of..

published on 10/17/24 7:50 AM