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

On January 18 Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Athanasius the Great

Once the Day of St. Athanasius comes, the spring is near

Photo: library

On January 18, the Orthodox Church revers the memory of St. Athanasius the Great. St. Athanasius the Great was an Egyptian theologian and man of God, Patriarch of Alexandria from 328 until 373 AD. He was the first to have popularized monasticism which originated in Egypt through Europe.

According to popular belief, St. Athanasius is a patron saint of the winter, ice and cold weather. The legend has it that on this day St. Athanasius went up into the mountains on a white horse. He took off his winter coat, put a silk shirt on and called out: “Go away winter, come summer!” It is said that from this day on the day begins to grow by one millet seed a day.

In Popular beliefs, Anthony and Athanasius are twin brothers. This is one of the principal feast days when the villagers make sacrificial offerings together- for health and prosperity.

In Bulgarian tradition, this is the day celebrated by al people named Atanas, Atanaska and their derivatives. Blacksmiths also celebrate on this day. According to the legend, St. Anthony and St. Athanasius were blacksmiths and even invented the blacksmith tongs. How this happened and why in some areas the Day of St. Anthony and the Day of St. Athanasius are called “sweet and honeyed” and what types of prohibitions people observe on these days? You can find more details in Radio Bulgaria’s article “Sweet and honeyed – the Days of St. Antony and St. Athanasius”.


Editing by: Elena Karkalanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov



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

Exhibition highlights Bulgaria's 20 years in NATO

An exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's NATO membership will open on 28 March at the National Museum of Military History in Sofia. The exhibition is entitled "The Bulgarian Army - 20 years of being part of NATO" and includes original..

published on 3/28/24 8:10 AM

In Bulgaria 26 March is Thrace Day

26 March is Thrace Day – the date was included in the official Bulgarian calendar in 2006, but has been celebrated long before that. On this day in 1913 the Bulgarian army conquered the Edirne fortress, until then deemed “impregnable”. The defeat..

updated on 3/26/24 2:03 PM

The Annunciation is the Christian Mother's Day

Every year, on March 25, the Bulgarian Church celebrates one of its brightest holidays - the Day of the Annunciation. Marked by the good news of the immaculate conception, it personifies God's infinite mercy to people and especially to the woman - a..

published on 3/25/24 5:10 AM