St Trifon’s Day (also known in Bulgaria as Trifon Zarezan) is an Orthodox feast which honors Saint Trifon. It is marked by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on February 1 (new style). In Bulgaria’s folklore calendar the feast is marked on three consecutive days called Trifontsi- February 1, 2 and 3. Trifon Zarezan is the feast of Bulgarian viticulturists, falconers, gardeners and tavern-keepers. Some people celebrate the feast on February 1, but most Bulgarians mark Trifon Zarezan on February 14 (old style). In ethnographic researches Saint Trifon is compared with ancient gods such as Dionysius, Sabasios, Bacchus, etc. Saint Trifon is popular in other Balkan countries as well. In Orthodox calendar the feast is associated with the transition from winter to spring. Many carnival games connected with the awakening nature and gods, who decide whether the year will be fruitful or not, are held during this period. According to a Serbian manuscript dating back to the 16th-17th century AD, people must light icon-lamps, sprinkle the sown fields with holy water and read the prayer of Saint Triphon on this day to prevent the crops and the vineyards from pests. According to Bulgarian folklore tradition, on this day men should go to the vineyards, carrying wooden wine vessels (filled with red wine) and ritual bread. They prune the vines and pour red wine on them. The ritual food consists of pita bread decorated with doughy figures in the shape of a vine leaf, grape cluster, cheese, bacon, pickled vegetables, flat sausage, etc.
Photo: archive26 years ago, on 30 September, at the initiative of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC), a Pan-Orthodox Council was convened in Sofia to resolve the schism within the Bulgarian clergy . Then, despite the efforts of Patriarch Bartholomew of Istanbul to..
The head of a statue has been unearthed during excavations in the great canal of the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica located in Southwestern Bulgaria, close to the town of Petrich. The head longs to the statue that was discovered a few days ago..
From 23 to 28 September, Sofia and Vidin will host the 7th International Conference on the Roman Danubian Provinces on the theme "Frontier Landscapes along the Danube", reports BNR Vidin. The initiative was taken by the University of Ferrara, Italy...
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