The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks today the Dormition of St. John of Rila (Ivan Rilski), patron saint of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian People. St. John of Rila was born around 876 in the village of Skrino located at the foot of the Osogovo Mountain. He was a contemporary of the reign of Knyaz Boris I and his son Vladimir, Tsar Simeon I the Great and his son Tsar Peter I, when Christianity was spreading across Bulgaria.
At the age of 25, St. John of Rila became a priest at St Demetrius monastery located under Ruen peak. After accepting the life of a monk, he left the monastery in order to continue his life in solitude and prayer. Later he settled in Rila and founded the Rila Monastery. He died in 946 and was buried in the small church in the Rila Monastery. St. John of Rila was canonized around 980.
An intact grave of a young woman dating to the beginning of the 2nd century AD has been discovered by archaeologists near the village of Kapitan Petko Voivoda, Topolovgrad Municipality announced. The team that made the discovery is led by Daniela Agre..
On October 14, the Bulgarian Orthodox church pays homage to Saint Paraskeva, also called St. Petka of Tarnovo and the day is known in Bulgaria as "Petkovden". Saint Petka was born in the 11th century in the town of Epibat, on the Sea of..
On 19 October 2025, the day on which Orthodox Bulgarians commemorate St Ivan Rilski the Miracle-Worker, the newly renovated St Ivan Rilski Church in Chicago will officially reopen its doors. Named after Bulgaria’s heavenly patron , the church will host..
A 5,000-year-long history lies hidden in the ruins of the medieval fortress “Ryahovets” near the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa where active excavations..
+359 2 9336 661