Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Today is the day of St. Andrew

Photo: pravoslavie.bg

As of the day of St. Andrew (Andreevden) the day begins to grow by one millet grain a day

Today the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honours the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called with liturgies held in churches across the country.

The saint, who was the first among the apostles to have been called by Jesus Christ witnessed his miracles, his death and his resurrection. In the Bulgarian lands St. Peter’s brother – St. Andrew is highly revered and often chosen as the patron saint of the family.

In popular belief it is said that as of the day of St. Andrew the day begins to grow by one millet grain a day, that is why in some parts of the country it goes by the name of Edrey, Edrevden, from “edur”, big.

On this day ritual loaves are baked and cereals and pulses which swell are put on the table – like lentils, peas, wheat – so that everything may grow during the year. In folklore beliefs St. Andrew is connected with bears – the biggest predators living in Bulgaria’s forests.

Read more about the St. Andrew’s Day legends, beliefs, customs here.



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

Bakadzhik monastery has preserved relics from the National Liberation of Bulgaria

Volunteers joined the efforts to clean and restore the monastery St. Spas near Bakadzhik peak. The campaign is being organized on 2 November by Stoimen Petrov, mayor of the nearby village of Chargan, the Bulgarian news agency BTA reports. The..

published on 11/2/24 8:30 AM

On Archangel All Souls' Day believers honour the dead and give alms

There are three special days on the calendar of the Bulgarian Orthodox church, on which believers pray to God and give alms to honour the memory of their dear departed. The three All Souls’ Days always fall on the Saturdays before Meat..

published on 11/2/24 4:30 AM

The secret mission of a Zeppelin L 59 or how Yambol went down in history with a world record

One frosty November morning in 1917, as World War I was raging, a Zeppelin L 59 took off from the air base near Yambol bound for Tanzania. The purpose of the flight was to deliver ammunition and materials to the German military units in a remote..

updated on 11/1/24 11:32 AM