Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates the beheading of St. John the Forerunner

Photo: archive

On August 29, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates the death of Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist - on this day the saint was beheaded. For the Church of Christ, Saint John the Forerunner is the greatest among the prophets, and therefore his memory is honored six times a year. On September 23 the church celebrates the Feast of the Conception of the St. John the Baptist, on June 24 it marks the Nativity of John the Baptist, on August 29 - his beheading. On September the church celebrates the Feast Day of the Synaxis of John the Baptist. On February 24 it marks the first and second finding of the honorable head of Saint John the Forerunner. May 25 marks the third finding of the honorable head of Saint John.

On this day, the Church has designated a strict fast, without oil, as a sign of solidarity with the martyrdom of the saint. On this day, as a sign of sympathy for the sufferings of the saint, by analogy with his spilled blood, fruits and vegetables with a red color - watermelons, apples, tomatoes - are not eaten. People should not drink red wine, either.

In the folk calendar, the day is called Seknovenie because of the belief that on this day summer is "cut", day and night are "cut" - they become equal in duration. The water and the weather are starting to get colder. 




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

Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Clement of Ohrid

On November 25, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honours the memory of St. Clement of Ohrid – a distinguished archbishop, teacher and scholar. He was among the most prominent disciples of the brothers Cyril and Methodius, the Holy Seven Apostles – the..

published on 11/25/24 9:10 AM

Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria pay homage to Saint Catherine

On November 24, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors St. Catherine (Sveta Ekaterina in Bulgarian) , who was one of the most educated women of her time. She lived in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries and came from a noble family in Alexandria...

published on 11/24/24 10:12 AM

St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral celebrates its feast day

The Patriarchal Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky is celebrating its temple feast today. The cathedral, a symbol of the Bulgarian capital, was built "in gratitude to the Russian people for the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878". Who..

published on 11/23/24 7:05 AM