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

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks Petkovden

Photo: library

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates today the Day of St. Paraskeva (Petka) of Turnovo. The holiday is called Petkovden by the people. St. Petka - one of the most revered saints in Bulgaria, was born in Epivat on the Sea of Marmara in the 11th century. Petka lived a devout life and after her death her relics that have healing power became a symbol protecting Christian culture against Islamic assimilation. In 1238 Tsar Ivan Assen II transferred the relics to the city of Veliko Turnovo, where they were kept until the city was conquered by the Turks. After long journeys in 1641, the relics of the saint were laid in the cathedral in the Romanian city of Iasi, where they are located to this day. In folk traditions Petkovden is seen as the end of the active farming season and services for health are held.




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

Premier Rosen Zhelyazkov

Premier Zhelyazkov to participate at the European meeting on Ukraine via videoconference

On February 19,  Bulgaria’s Premier Rosen Zhelyazkov will participate in the second emergency meeting on Ukraine, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Bulgarian government said in a press release. Bulgaria received an invitation from..

published on 2/19/25 10:14 AM

The topic of the so-called ''Shopi nation'' was discussed in Bosilegrad

A forum was held at the BTA press club in Bosilegrad, provoked by the attempts to promote the so-called ''Shopi nation'' in the Western Outlands. MPs, diplomats and representatives of the academic community from Bulgaria took part in the discussion...

published on 2/19/25 9:51 AM

Bulgarian-African Chamber of Commerce to develop relations with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Representatives of the Bulgarian-African Chamber of Commerce visited the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and met with its President Tsvetan Simeonov. Albena Jones, Dimitar Turlakov, and Anton Samsonov are among the founders of..

published on 2/19/25 9:08 AM