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

Archaeologists send petition to Patriarch in support of fire dancing

Patriarch Daniil
Photo: Bulgarian Patriarchate

The Bulgarian Archaeological Society 'Ivan Venedikov' issued a statement addressed to Patriarch Daniil, in response to his recent public call to end the centuries-old tradition of fire dancing, known as Nestinarstvo. "Mr. Patriarch, do not touch Nestinarstvo!" the scholars urge in a message reported by BNR’s Maria Fileva.


They strongly oppose any attempt to ban this ancient ritual, describing it as central to Bulgarian identity. They characterise the move as cultural fundamentalism, warning that such actions mark a dangerous first step towards the dehumanisation of the nation by erasing its rituals and historical memory.


"Nestinari dancing is not merely a folkloric element or ritual practice," the statement reads. 'It is a living bridge between the millennia-old traditions of the Thracians and Christian spirituality — adopted, enriched and preserved by the Bulgarian people.' This custom is not 'paganism', but a cultural phenomenon that has endured for centuries, carrying deep symbolism, reverence and spirituality. It fuses the ritual power of faith with the rhythm of the earth in honour of Saints Constantine and Helena, who are integral to the Christian pantheon”.

Earlier this month, Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven publicly condemned Nestinarstvo and prohibited dancers from using icons during the fire-walking ritual.


‘The icon is a sacred object — a holy image. What does Nestinarstvo contribute? Does anyone become more spiritually elevated?” Patriarch Daniil commented on the ban, as quoted by BNT. 'The Church and faith have nothing to do with magic or images with supposed magical properties that allow a person to walk on fire.'



Editor: Miglena Ivanova

Posted in English by E. Radkova 

Photos: BTA, BGNES, Bulgarian Patriarchate


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

The baptism of Tsar Boris I (painter Nikolai Pavlovich)

Celebrations of the 1160th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Bulgaria

This year, 2025, marks 1160 years since the baptism of our Bulgarian people into the Orthodox faith and 1170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet and Slavic literature. On this occasion, the Varna and Veliki Preslav Bishopric Metropolis..

published on 5/1/25 7:05 AM
Monument to Pavel Bobekov in the centre of Panagyurishte

Pavel Bobekov and the grammar of the April Uprising

Bulgaria celebrates 149 years since the April Uprising – an event that led to the liberation of Bulgaria after almost five centuries of Ottoman rule. Today, nearly a century and a half later, we must not forget that every participant in the April..

published on 5/1/25 6:25 AM

Religious education in schools is not indoctrination, says Patriarch Daniil

The introduction of the subject "Virtues and Religions" in schools is not aimed at indoctrinating children, but at informing and educating them. Faith is something personal, Patriarch Daniil said in an interview for public service TV BNT. “Faith is..

published on 4/30/25 10:11 AM