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

Orthodox Christians celebrate Day of Saints Constantine and Helena

Photo: Radio Varna

Today Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria celebrate the Day of Saints Constantine and Helena. It was Emperor Constantine, who in 313 issued an edict proclaiming Christianity as legal religion in Byzantium.

In Bulgaria marking this holiday is characterised by combination of Christian and pagan rituals. The Day of Saints Constantine and Helena is also the day of fire-dancers.

In villages in Strandzha Mountain one can see the ancient ritual of fire-dancing or 'nestinarstvo' performed, with people dancing barefoot on glowing embers holding an icon of the saints above their head.



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

PM Zhelyazkov, 26 April, 2025

PM Rosen Zhelyazkov and the Bulgarian delegation arrive in the Vatican

The Bulgarian delegation, led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has arrived in the Vatican where they will attend Pope Francis’ funeral services .   Funeral Mass for Pope Francis to be held in Sofia on 28 April Pope Francis appeared..

published on 4/26/25 12:41 PM
The photo is illustrative

Protest disrupts traffic in the region of Danube Bridge

A peaceful civic protest under the motto “Protecting our children – car procession and blocking traffic on Danube Bridge” will take place on Saturday. The participants will start from the municipal parking lot next to the National Revenue Agency..

published on 4/26/25 10:10 AM

Bulgarian opera singers with concert in Grasse to mark 145th anniversary of Bulgarian-French diplomatic relations

Vice President Iliana Iotova is paying a visit to Grasse, France at the invitation of the town mayor Mayor Jerome Viaud and the local cultural association Centre d'Art des Collines de Grasse. The visit marks the 145 th anniversary of the..

published on 4/26/25 9:52 AM