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

Today is the day of St. Andrew

Photo: pravoslavie.bg

As of the day of St. Andrew (Andreevden) the day begins to grow by one millet grain a day

Today the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honours the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called with liturgies held in churches across the country.

The saint, who was the first among the apostles to have been called by Jesus Christ witnessed his miracles, his death and his resurrection. In the Bulgarian lands St. Peter’s brother – St. Andrew is highly revered and often chosen as the patron saint of the family.

In popular belief it is said that as of the day of St. Andrew the day begins to grow by one millet grain a day, that is why in some parts of the country it goes by the name of Edrey, Edrevden, from “edur”, big.

On this day ritual loaves are baked and cereals and pulses which swell are put on the table – like lentils, peas, wheat – so that everything may grow during the year. In folklore beliefs St. Andrew is connected with bears – the biggest predators living in Bulgaria’s forests.

Read more about the St. Andrew’s Day legends, beliefs, customs here.



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

Cheesefare Sunday prepares the faithful for Great Lent and repentance

Today is Cheesefare Sunday. According to Orthodox tradition, this day is observed on the eve of Great Lent, when Christians seek and give forgiveness to each other . It is also known as Sirni Zagovezni because it marks the last day before Lent, when..

published on 3/2/25 7:15 AM
Priest Lyubomir Bratoev

Priest Lyubomir Bratoev in Berlin: The first liturgies in Bulgarian were served at the embassy building

Priest Lyubomir Bratoev is a direct participant in the events of t he founding of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church community in Berlin . He came to the capital of East Germany in the late 1980s as a doctoral student. And, like a typical Orthodox Christian..

published on 2/26/25 8:15 AM

The Church of St. John of Rila – a piece of Bulgaria in London

After nearly 35 years, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Community in London has its own church in the central part of the British capital, in close proximity to the Bulgarian Embassy. There, in the prestigious Kensington district, next to Hyde Park and..

published on 2/24/25 3:05 PM