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

Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria and the world celebrate Christmas

Bulgarian Partriarch Daniil
Photo: BTA

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas with solemn services. The festive services began on Christmas Eve, when the church held a solemn vigil. 

Hundreds of laypeople gathered at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, where the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil served his first solemn service. 

"Let Christmas be the beginning of a profound, gracious change in our way of thinking and living, in our relationships with God and our neighbors," the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church said in his official address.

The festive Christmas service begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be broadcast live on the BNR's Horizon program. Today's Gospel readings in churches also tell about the birth of Jesus Christ. 

On December 25, Hristo, Hristina, Radoslav, Radostin, Bozhidar, Emil, and Emmanuil have their name days.



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

Who is Marko Totev and why his name became a byword for bad luck

In Bulgaria, when we talk about a person with bad luck, we often say: "Ah, what a Marko Totev!" But who exactly was Marko Totev, and how did his name become a byword for a person with ill fortune and a bad luck? "He was a Bulgarian public figure..

published on 4/1/25 8:56 AM

Life as a string of Ramadans – Muslims in Bulgaria celebrate Bayram

30 March marks the end of the most blessed time of the year, as Muslims call the month of Ramadan. This year it started on 1 March, and the most important obligation Muslims have during this 30-day period is to refrain from food, drink and temptation..

published on 3/30/25 8:15 AM
The Bulgarian Cathedral

God's grace flows into the Bulgarian cathedral in Berlin

Nearly 40 years ago, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Communities (BOCC) in Western and Central Europe were concentrated in several cities. After our country joined the European Union and with the growth of the Bulgarian diaspora, the Bulgarian church..

published on 3/25/25 2:43 PM