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

Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vyara, Nadezhda and Lyubov

Photo: pravoslavieto.com

On September 17, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vyara, Nadezhda and Lyubov ( Wisdom, Faith, Hope and Love). The legend has it that Sophia and her three daughters were subjected to terrible torture by Emperor Hadrian in Rome for professing Christianity. Hadrian urged them to offer a sacrifice to the goddess Artemis, but the young girls remained unyielding and died a martyr's death with their mother. 

September 17 is also the day of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia. September 17 was declared a holiday of Sofia by a decision of the Sofia Municipal Council of March 25, 1992. On this day a festive liturgy is served near the St. Sofia Church.

  • Bulgarian capital Sofia celebrates its day with a festive programme




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

Russia and unstable Balkans are threat to national security

The main threats to Bulgaria's national security are Russia and the instability of the Western Balkans, according to the annual report of the State Agency for National Security (SANS) for 2024. In Bulgaria, two Russian..

published on 4/28/25 9:20 AM

European Council President meets Bulgarian Prime Minister and President

For two decades Bulgaria has known what it is striving for, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said after a meeting with President of the European Council António Costa, who arrived on a three-day visit to Bulgaria. Zhelyazkov pointed..

published on 4/28/25 8:55 AM

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev will participate in the Three Seas initiative

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev begins his two-day visit to Warsaw at the invitation of his counterpart Andrzej Duda. In the Polish capital, he will participate in the 10th Summit of the “Three Seas” initiative to deepen cooperation in the energy,..

published on 4/28/25 7:35 AM