ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Orthodox Christians venerate St. Anna - Mother of the Theotokos 

Photo: Archive

On December 9th we celebrate St. Anna - the mother of the Virgin Mary. Joachim and Anna had been childless for many years and prayed to God to grant them a baby. One day an angel of the Lord appeared to Anna and told her that she would give birth to a daughter, Mary, for the salvation of the world. Grateful for the news, she promised to dedicate the child to God. True to her word, she and her husband took the three-year-old girl to the temple. 

St Anna is the patron saint of marriage, family, motherhood and women. 

The Orthodox Church also honours St. Anna in the summer, on 25 July, when the day of her succession is celebrated. Today's day is known in popular tradition as St. Anne's Winter or St. Anne's Conception. Traditionally, the meal is fasted, as the feast falls during Christmas Lent. 
In Hebrew, the name Anna means grace, mercy, favour. Name Day on 9 December celebrates all those who bear the name Anna, Anka, etc.

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.
Radio Bulgaria History and religion    Orthodox religion Saint Anna traditions

More from category

The folk custom

Ivanovden is among the favorite winter holidays

Today, The Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the memory of Saint John the Baptist, also known as Saint John the Forerunner, because he prepared people for the coming of the Savior. The day dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, known in Bulgaria as..

published on 1/7/25 6:05 AM

Bulgarians across the country take out the cross on Epiphany

On January 6, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is marking Epiphany. According to the Bible, on this day John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. Traditionally, a festive Epiphany liturgy is held in churches, water is blessed, and then..

published on 1/6/25 6:10 PM

147 years since the liberation of Sofia

The fighting for Sofia within the framework of the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) began on December 25, 1877. On January 3, 1878, the city's commandant Osman Nuri Pasha began to withdraw from Sofia.  His plans to set the city on fire were thwarted..

published on 1/4/25 6:30 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 13
Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 15
Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 14
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 15
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 14
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 15
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 13
Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 14
Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 12
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 15
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 14
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 14
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 11
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 14
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 16
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 15
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 12
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 15
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 13
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 14
Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 13
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 14
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Ancient finds, new discoveries –2024 in archaeology at the National History Museum

In 2024, the National History Museum sent expeditions to 22 archaeological sites. More than 1,400 artifacts were found during the season spanning the..

updated on 1/31/25 3:00 PM

BNR's Radio Bulgaria starts a podcast about our Orthodox communities abroad

From 31 January 2025, the first podcast about Bulgarian Orthodox communities abroad - Bridge of Faith - will be launched. The concept is the brainchild of..

published on 1/31/25 7:15 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"