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

Water blessing of the battle flags to take place across Bulgaria on Epiphany

Photo: BTA

A traditional water blessing of the battle flags and holy flags of the Bulgarian Army will be held on January 6 in all the country's garrisons. The ceremonial ritual in Sofia will take place at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Unknown Warrior Monument in the presence of Defense Minister Todor Tagarev.

For the first time, a water blessing ceremony of the banners was celebrated during the time of Tsar Simeon I before the battle of Acheloi in 917. Until the fall of Bulgaria under the Ottoman rule, a water blessing of the flags was performed before every battle fought by the Bulgarian army. After the Liberation in 1878, the tradition was restored by the first military minister of the Principality of Bulgaria, Piotr Dmitrievich Parensov, and continued until 1946, according to the Ministry of Defense. 

After the collapse of the Communist rule, the ritual was restored in 1993. 

Since then, every year on Epiphany, in all garrisons, the highest representative of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the diocese reads a prayer for health and success, together with the consecration of the battle flags.



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

Екатерина Захариева

Bulgarian Ekaterina Zaharieva is the EU commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation

The European Parliament has approved the nomination of Bulgarian Ekaterina Zaharieva as European Commissioner. She will be in charge of the 'Start-ups, Research and Innovation' portfolio.  After her confirmation hearing in the European Parliament,..

published on 11/5/24 4:03 PM

Bulgaria and Romania to discuss full Schengen membership with Austria in Budapest 

A meeting of the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Austria in Budapest could lead to a change in Austria's stance on the two countries joining the Schengen area. This is reported in the Austrian media.  The meeting will take place on 22..

published on 11/5/24 3:42 PM

EU Commissioner candidate Zaharieva supports funding for defence technology

"I support the allocation of more funds in the field of innovation for defence" - this is how the Bulgarian candidate for the post of European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, answered a question by Bulgarian MEP..

published on 11/5/24 1:56 PM