Every year on 21 November the church marks the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the 12 Great Feasts of the year, celebrated by both the Eastern Orthodox and the Catholic Church.
By a decision of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church from 1929, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also celebrated in Bulgaria as the Day of the Christian Family. It coincides with the start of the Nativity Fast. On this day, at the end of church service in Eastern Orthodox houses of worship, believers receive Holy Communion.
Going to church as a family on this day symbolized the entry into the temple by 3-year old Mary, the future Mother of God. It is a reminder to parents of their spiritual obligations to their children. After returning from church the family gathers around the table which has always been a symbol of a strong family bond. The table is not cleared away so that when Virgin Mary comes during the night she will have something to eat and will bless the house.
Read more about the Day of the Christian Family here.
The new Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Daniil held talks with the Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria Yordanka Chobanova at the Synodal Palace. HE Daniil emphasized the important work of the Church in..
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski is to play host to more than 300 scholars from all over the world at the traditional international conference of the European Association of Biblical studies. The forum is to take place at the rectorate of the..
The big marble statue found recently in the ancient town of Heraclea Sintica has been moved to the History Museum in Petrich. Archaeologists make new significant discovery in Heraclea Sintica Heraclea Sintica reveals more of its ancient..
Christian Europe is alive and attempts to de-Christianize and dehumanize it will not succeed, reads the position of the Holy Synod of..
Partly Cloudy
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Mostly Cloudy