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

Christians in Bulgaria pay honor to Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vyara, Nadezhda and Lyubov

Photo: BNR-library

On September 17, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the Holy Martyr Sophia and her daughters Vyara, Nadezhda and Lyubov (Faith, Hope and Love).

The legend has it that in the 1st century, Sophia and her daughters were subjected to terrible torture by Emperor Hadrian in Rome for professing Christianity and died a martyr's death.

"Their death becomes the center of eternal life and this refers to the other meaning of the holiday - which is wisdom. It is believed that the wisdom of God is one of the names of the Son of God - Christ himself", priest Sava Kukudev of the church "St. Sophia" said.

The name of the Bulgarian capital Sofia, which marks its holiday today, is directly related to the history of the church of the same name.




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

Three points of views by Bulgarian historians on the Unification of Bulgaria in 1885

In June 1878, after the 10 th Russo-Turkish war in a row, at the Berlin congress, the lands in the Balkans inhabited by Bulgarians were divided up into five. Northern Dobrudja was handed over to Romania. Serbia got the Sanjak of Niš. The lands..

published on 9/6/25 8:05 AM

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks start of ecclesiastical New Year on September 1

The New Church Year begins on September 1. The month of September is the seventh month of the year according to the Jewish calendar. It is associated with a number of biblical events, which is why it was designated as the beginning of the Church New..

published on 9/1/25 12:19 PM

In the footsteps of medieval monks – the hidden face of the Ivanovo Rock Monastery

High in the canyon of the Rusenski Lom River lies one of the most impressive spiritual centers of Bulgaria. It is a complex of dozens of rock-hewn cells, chapels and churches carved on both sides of the river , which came to life in the 13th century..

published on 8/31/25 11:35 AM