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

Christians honour St George the Victorious

Icon of Saint George, 14th century, Constantinople.
Photo: Archive

Today, the Orthodox Church commemorates St George the Victorious, recognised as one of the earliest martyrs for the faith.

Living during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, St George joined the army at a young age. By the time he was twenty, he had risen to the ranks of the Council of State. However, when the persecution of Christians began, he steadfastly refused to take part in it. Enduring various tortures for his unwavering faith, he inspired many to embrace Christianity, including Alexandra, the Emperor's wife. As a result, the emperor ordered St George to be beheaded with a sword.

For Bulgarians, the feast of St George is of great national significance, symbolising the beginning of summer and the new agricultural cycle. Traditionally, a kurban is offered in honour of St George, accompanied by the roasting of a lamb, and the whole family gathers for a festive meal.



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

Photo: Bulgarian Sunday School

Earthquakes, water shortages, wind generators… eco-challenges unite students from Bulgaria, Italy and Denmark

Topics related to renewable resources and natural disasters united students from the Bulgarian Sunday School "Assen and Iliya Peykovi" in Rome, the First English Language School in Sofia and the Greve High School near Copenhagen. The project aims to..

published on 2/3/25 1:22 PM

Delchevo welcomes 50 winemakers for a two-day wine festival

More than 50 wine producers from Bulgaria and Greece are going to take part in the contest for best wine with which the two-fay wine festival will kick off in Delchevo village near Gotse Delchev. Expert oenologists will evaluate a total of 134..

published on 2/1/25 3:20 PM

Trifon Zarezan comes around with vine pruning and wine drinking

The day of St. Tryphon is marked on 1 February old style (14 February new style), and i n the folklore calendar it spans 3 days, known as Trifontsi – 1,2 and 3 February. Known in popular tradition as Trifon Zarezan (Trifon the pruner), it is a..

published on 2/1/25 6:45 AM