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

Water blessing of the battle flags to take place across Bulgaria on Epiphany

Photo: BTA

A traditional water blessing of the battle flags and holy flags of the Bulgarian Army will be held on January 6 in all the country's garrisons. The ceremonial ritual in Sofia will take place at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Unknown Warrior Monument in the presence of Defense Minister Todor Tagarev.

For the first time, a water blessing ceremony of the banners was celebrated during the time of Tsar Simeon I before the battle of Acheloi in 917. Until the fall of Bulgaria under the Ottoman rule, a water blessing of the flags was performed before every battle fought by the Bulgarian army. After the Liberation in 1878, the tradition was restored by the first military minister of the Principality of Bulgaria, Piotr Dmitrievich Parensov, and continued until 1946, according to the Ministry of Defense. 

After the collapse of the Communist rule, the ritual was restored in 1993. 

Since then, every year on Epiphany, in all garrisons, the highest representative of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the diocese reads a prayer for health and success, together with the consecration of the battle flags.



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

Cold weather expected on Wednesday, temperatures continue to drop

On Wednesday, the lowest temperatures will range between minus 8°C and minus 3°C, for Sofia around minus 7°C . During the day, snow showers in the northeastern regions will begin to stop, but in southeastern Bulgaria it will still snow in many places...

published on 2/18/25 7:05 PM
Susan Falatko

Susan Falatko will assume the role of Chargé d’Affaires at US Embassy in Sofia

Career Foreign Service Officer Susan Falatko has arrived in Sofia on February 18 to assume the role of Chargé d’Affaires. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Falatko’s service includes assignments as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the..

published on 2/18/25 6:54 PM

President Radev: Drug use by young people endangers our nation

Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev convened today a meeting of the National Security Advisory Council, dedicated to the risks and threats to national security arising from the spread of narcotic and intoxicating substances among the younger generation and..

published on 2/18/25 6:50 PM