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

Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Athanasius the Great

Photo: BGNES-archive

On January 18, the Orthodox Church revers the memory of St. Athanasius the Great. According to popular belief, St. Athanasius is a patron of winter storms. On horseback, donned in a silk shirt, goes St. Athanasius into the forest and yells, “Go away, yo, winter, come, thee, summer!” And according to the Bulgarian popular belief, he does that each year on January 18, and that is why it is known as the Winter Atanasovden or Amidst Winter in the popular calendar.

It is said that from January 18 the day begins to grow by one millet seed. In some regions of the country people used to believe that plague was born on this day. To protect themselves from the deadly disease, people used to sacrifice a black hen to prepare a ritual meal. 

 Atanas, Atanaska, Nasko, Tina, Tinka, Tanyu, Taska celebrate their name day today.



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

Tsar Boris III (1894-1943)

Tsar Boris III Unifier remembered by his son Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

It is 131 years since the birth of Tsar Boris III, dubbed unifier. Boris Saxe-Coburg-Gotha found himself at the head of Bulgaria after the abdication of Tsar Ferdinand after the defeat of the country in World War I. The young monarch was crowned..

published on 1/30/25 6:10 AM

Ancient city Heraclea Sintica presented through 3D glasses at international tourist expos

The ancient city Heraclea Sintica is among Bulgaria's most attractive tourist sites presented at international tourist exhibitions in Vienna and Stuttgart , Katya Stoyanova, head of the project "Restoration, conservation and socialization of Heraclea..

published on 1/27/25 11:06 AM

Remains of Roman military facilities shed new light on life near Bulgaria's town of Lom on the Danube

Archaeological excavations in the Kaleto district of the Bulgarian town of Lom situated on the Danube River have revealed remains of Roman defensive facilities dating back to the 1st century AD .  Archaeologists prove that Lower Danube region..

published on 1/26/25 5:05 AM