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

Water blessing ceremony in Bulgarian churches on the day before Epiphany

Photo: BGNES

Before the feast of the Epiphany on January 5, a great water blessing ceremony is served in Bulgarian churches. This liturgy is performed only twice a yea - on the feast of the Epiphany and on the day before known as "Voditsi". This tradition dates back to the 5th century. The consecrated water is considered to be especially graceful and healing, and the believers take it home.

In different parts of Bulgaria the day before Epiphany is called Popova Christmas, Winter Krastovden (Feast of the Cross), Krastsi, Vodokrashti or Voditsiy. This holiday closes the cycle of the so-called "dirty days" starting at Christmas. "Dirty" or "unbaptized" are those days in which the newborn Jesus had not yet received the Holy Baptism.
For the feast of Voditsi, the church has established a day of strict fasting.



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

Secrets of Sofia: The fate of Naum Torbov - architect of the capital's Central Market Halls

After the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule, architects from Europe flocked to Sofia, which became the new Bulgarian capital city in 1879, to give it a modern look and functionality. In the end of the 19 th century the first..

published on 8/21/24 2:15 PM
Patriarch Daniil

Patriarch Daniil congratulates Metrpolitan Onufriy of Kyiv on the 10th anniversary of his enthronement

Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria sent a letter to Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate), the Bulgarian Patriarchate reported. The message reads: "Your Beatitude, on this date exactly 10 years ago, your solemn enthronement as..

published on 8/20/24 9:31 AM

Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria mark the Dormition of St. John of Rila

Orthodox Christians mark the Dormition of St. John of Rila, who is considered the heavenly protector of the Bulgarian people. The saint was born in the village of Skrino in the Osogovo Mountain in the second half of the 9th..

published on 8/18/24 11:21 AM