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

Codes of Identity: Exhibition presents Bulgaria's ancient families and the 130-year life of Yoncho Pelovsky

The exhibition "Codes of Identity", which opens today in Sofia, presents ancient Bulgarian lineages that have left a lasting legacy. The venue is the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NAIM-BAS) In..

published on 11/14/24 7:45 AM
The tomb of the Thracian king Seuthes III in the Golyamata Kosmatka mound.

20 years ago, archaeologist Georgi Kitov discovered the tomb of King Seuthes III

June 11, 2007 - US President George W. Bush Jr. visits Sofia. According to protocol, the press conference he held for the media took place among the exhibits of the National Archaeological Museum. The official lunch for the guest was later held at the..

published on 11/12/24 6:54 PM
Todor Zhivkov

Bulgaria marks 35 years since the fall of communism

On November 10, 1989, a plenum of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party ousted its General Secretary and Chairman of the State Council, Todor Zhivkov. This marked the symbolic beginning of the transition from a one-party system to..

published on 11/10/24 11:18 AM