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

In Bulgarian folklore St. Elijah is master of hail and storms

Photo: pravoslavie.bg

On July 20, Orthodox Christians mark the day of St. Elijah. Bulgarians call this holiday Ilinden and in folklore traditions St. Elijah is seen as a saints who is master of hail, thunder, and lightning.

In folk tales the saint has a chariot of fire and as he rides in it he chases a dragon (“lamya”) that feeds on the wheat in the fields. Perhaps, this notion is connected with the miracle of his departure from the earthly world as it is said that St. Elijah was taken in a chariot of fire and brought alive to heaven.

A beautiful song from the repertoire of Daniel Spasov and Milen Ivanov tells about the supernatural powers of "Old Saint Elijah".


Editor: Albena Bezovska



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

Archaeologists study the production complex of Provadia-Solnitsata, which operated millennia ago

The production complex at the prehistoric settlement Provadia-Solnitsata will be the focus of research during the 20th archaeological season. It is located about 100 meters from the ancient settlement and spans nearly 5 decares. The area is currently..

published on 8/8/24 2:51 PM

Transfiguration of the Lord Church in Borovets celebrates its holiday

For the pre-celebration of its holiday, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the resort complex Borovets welcomes the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil and the Metropolitan of Sofia for an evening service. The temple opened doors..

published on 8/5/24 10:54 AM

The Holy Synod publishes position about the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics

Christian Europe is alive and attempts to de-Christianize and dehumanize it will not succeed, reads the position of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church about the opening of the Olympics in Paris. "All Christendom was..

published on 7/30/24 1:22 PM