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

Water blessing ceremony of the Bulgarian Army Flags to take place on Epiphany

President Radev at the water blessing ceremony in central Sofia on Epiphany (archive)
Photo: president.bg

On January 6, the feast of Epiphany, the traditional water blessing of the battle flags and holy flags of the Bulgarian Army will be celebrated in all garrisons of the country. The solemn ritual in Sofia will begin at 11:00 in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. 

The water blessing ceremony will be held by His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil. 

The ceremony will be attended by the Bulgarian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Rumen Radev, who will accept the honorary formation of the representative units of the Bulgarian Army and lay a wreath in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Vice President Iliana Iotova, Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov and Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov will also be present.



For the first time, the blessing of the battle flags was performed during the reign of Tsar Simeon I before the Battle of Aheloy in 917. Until the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman rule, the blessing of the flags was performed before every battle fought by the Bulgarian army. 

After the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule in 1878, the tradition was restored by the first military minister of the Principality of Bulgaria, Pyotr Dmitrievich Parensov, and continued until 1946, the Ministry of Defense indicates. After the fall of Communism in Bulgaria, the ritual was restored in 1993.

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 News    battle flags Epiphany flags of the Bulgarian army water blessing of the Bulgarian military flags

More from category

New tanker control zone in Burgas because of air pollution

The authorities in Burgas are introducing a 35-kilometer security zone in the waters of the Burgas Bay, where waiting tankers will not be allowed, BTA reported. The measure is in response to growing public discontent over the strong..

published on 7/3/25 9:56 AM
Photo: Team of the film “The Artist’s Daughter”

Bulgarian animation presented at the EU Film Days 2025 in Tokyo

Bulgarian short animated film “The Artist’s Daughter” will be presented today in Tokyo as part of the EU Film Days, BTA reports. The animation is part of the festival program in the “Memory and History” section. “The Artist’s..

published on 7/3/25 9:33 AM

Young doctors call for minimum wage of no less than 150% of the average salary

Doctors without a speciality and nurses should receive a minimum wage of 150% of the average salary in the country. This was proposed at a round table in the National Assembly by protesting doctors from the “Future in Bulgaria”..

published on 7/3/25 8:57 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 18 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 30
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 29
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 40
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 38
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 19 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 17 | Max: 38
Partly Cloudy
Min: 19 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 39
Partly Cloudy
Min: 20 | Max: 38
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 18 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 32
Partly Cloudy
Min: 19 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 37
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

President Radev thanked Oman for their help in freeing the crew of the Galaxy Leader

Bulgaria appreciates Oman's important role in de-escalating tensions and achieving stability and lasting peace in the region. This is according to Head of..

published on 7/4/25 6:10 PM

President Radev and Premier Zhelyazkov send greetings to the United States on the occasion of Independence Day

Bulgaria’s Premier Rosen Zhelyazkov extended his warmest congratulations to the President, the government and the people of the United States on the..

published on 7/4/25 10:26 AM

Ferry operations near Oryahovo have been suspended due to low water levels in the Danube River

Ferry operations near Oryahovo have been suspended d ue to low water levels in the Danube River.  The situation is not unprecedented and occurs every..

published on 7/4/25 10:42 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

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