Today the church celebrates the Ascension of Jesus. The holiday is always marked on Thursday, 40 days after Easter. According to Christians, after the Resurrection Jesus remained on earth and preached among his disciples. On the 40th day he appeared to his disciples for the last time, talked to them and led them out of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives before ascending to heaven. In Bulgarian the day is also called Spasovden (derivative of the verb meaning “to save”), because the Ascension completed the act of salvation.
According to folklore beliefs, Spasovden is related to the cult of the dead. On the eve of the holiday, people who are ill and infertile women used to sleep in meadows where dittany grew in order to get healthy. The day is a holiday of bakers and confectioners. People named Spas, Spasena, Spasimir, Spasimira, Spasiana, Spaska, etc. also celebrate today.
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..
Meatfare Sunday in 2025 will be remembered as a major celebration for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the entire Bulgarian community in the United Kingdom. The "St. John of Rila" Orthodox Church, built with funds from the Bulgarian state and with..
All Souls' Day (Zadushnitsa in Bulgarian) is an important day for many Christians. On this day, we remember deceased relatives and loved ones. The first of the three All Souls' Days of the year, also known as the Great or All Souls' Day, falls on the..
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..
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