Roman emperor Constantine the Great (AD 306 to 337) introduced the Christian religion as official in the Byzantine Empire. His mother, Helena, discovered the cross on which the Savior was crucified and built several monasteries in the Holy Land. The discovery of the Cross is considered the most important event in the history of Christendom, and Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena were canonized as saints.
In Bulgarian folk customs, the feast intertwines the traditions of Christianity with pagan traditions of dancing on live coals - the Nestinari dance. It is preserved to this day in some areas, in its original form. In many places it is also performed as a show for tourists.
Preparations begin a few days before the holiday. Donations are collected for a common kurban soup, as well as for cleaning and maintaining the springs and wells in the village. A large pile of firewood is prepared in the village square. It is lit in the evening of the feast and, as everyone gathers around the huge fire, musicians begin to play ritual melodies. When the fire dies down, the embers are scattered in a circle. Horo chain dances are danced around it, with the icons of St. Constantine and St. Helena at the head.Volunteers joined the efforts to clean and restore the monastery St. Spas near Bakadzhik peak. The campaign is being organized on 2 November by Stoimen Petrov, mayor of the nearby village of Chargan, the Bulgarian news agency BTA reports. The..
There are three special days on the calendar of the Bulgarian Orthodox church, on which believers pray to God and give alms to honour the memory of their dear departed. The three All Souls’ Days always fall on the Saturdays before Meat..
One frosty November morning in 1917, as World War I was raging, a Zeppelin L 59 took off from the air base near Yambol bound for Tanzania. The purpose of the flight was to deliver ammunition and materials to the German military units in a remote..
There are three special days on the calendar of the Bulgarian Orthodox church, on which believers pray to God and give alms to honour the memory of..
Volunteers joined the efforts to clean and restore the monastery St. Spas near Bakadzhik peak. The campaign is being organized on 2 November by Stoimen..
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