Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

In Bulgaria: Orthodox Church celebrates Palm Sunday, Catholics and Armenians - Easter

Patriarch Neophyte also attended the solemn liturgy at St. Alexander Nevsky Church, April 9, 2023.
Photo: BGNES

Holy Mass was held in the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Sofia on the occasion of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. "May the peace and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all!" wished Patriarch Neophyte, who was present at the service. Palm Sunday is also known as Tsvetnitsa (from tsvete - flower) or Vrabnitsa (from varba - willow tree) in Bulgaria, where palm leaves are replaced with willow branches. Tomorrow begins Holy Week, the week of Christ's passion, crucifixion and resurrection.

Thousands gathered in the central Bulgarian town of Lovech, where there is a traditional crafts fair and a national festival of folk art and customs, BNR correspondent Plamen Hristov reports.

In the southeastern village of General Inzovo over 300 folklore lovers gathered today at the festival "From Palm Sunday to St. George's Day". The festival presents folk songs, dances, rituals and customs observed between the two major holidays, as our correspondent Daniela Kostova informs.

Catholics in Bulgaria celebrate Easter today. The faithful filled the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the town of Rakovski, home to the largest Catholic community in Bulgaria. 

Armenians are also celebrating Easter. In Silistra, however, they will celebrate it a week later in the oldest Armenian temple in Bulgaria, the 1620 St. Mary's Church, when a priest from Ruse will come to celebrate mass. Since the 1960s, the Armenians in Silistra have not had their own clergyman, BNR correspondent Nezabravka Kirova said. 



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

Bulgaria's Ministry of Tourism to create a map for hard-to-reach tourist sites

The Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism will work to create a map of important, but hard-to-reach tourist and cultural-historical sites. The goal is then to insist on financing the necessary repairs and improvements that will facilitate visitors' access to..

published on 2/17/25 10:46 AM

Sofia has a chance to be elected "European Capital of Democracy"

The cities of Sofia, Rotterdam and Cascais will compete for the title of "European Capital of Democracy" in 2026 . The selection will take place until March 12, 2025, by over 4,500 juries in 47 countries. Barcelona was the winner of the title in..

published on 2/17/25 9:55 AM
Vice President Iotova

Bulgaria not invited to Paris for the European forum on Ukraine

A surprising meeting, personally I think it should take place with all leaders within the EU and the UK. This was commented to BTA by Vice President Iliana Iotova on the occasion of the meeting of European leaders on Ukraine convened by French..

published on 2/17/25 9:05 AM