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

Bulgarians associate Day of St. Anthony with protection from diseases

Photo: library

The Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of St. Anthony the Great, one of the first Christian hermits and founder of monasticism. He was born in Egypt in the year 251 and lived for 105 years. After a long spiritual struggle he achieved holiness and received the gift of healing from God.

Bulgarians call the day Antonovden. More than 80,000 people with the names of Anton, Antonia, as well as those named Andon, Donika, Doncho, Donka, Dona, Toncho, Tonka, Tonko, Tonya, Tony celebrate today.

In the folk calendar, Antonovden is associated with rituals performed for protection against diseases. According to legends, St. Anthony and St. Athanasius were brothers, who invented the blacksmith tongs. Therefore, the Day of St. Athanasius follows Antonovden and all blacksmiths and ironworkers celebrate.




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

New Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil ready to work on joint projects with European Commission

The new Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Daniil held talks with the Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria Yordanka Chobanova at the Synodal Palace. HE Daniil emphasized the important work of the Church in..

published on 7/17/24 5:22 PM
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski

More than 300 bible researchers attend international conference in Sofia

Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski is to play host to more than 300 scholars from all over the world at the traditional international conference of the European Association of Biblical studies. The forum is to take place at the rectorate of the..

published on 7/14/24 7:55 AM

The statue found at Heraclea Sintica has been shipped off to the History Museum in Petrich

The big marble statue found recently in the ancient town of Heraclea Sintica has been moved to the History Museum in Petrich. Archaeologists make new significant discovery in Heraclea Sintica Heraclea Sintica reveals more of its ancient..

published on 7/13/24 10:42 AM