ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The day of Saints Peter and Paul is among the most widely celebrated summer feasts in Bulgaria

Photo: BGNES archive

The holy apostles Peter and Paul are two of the most revered, famous and influential apostles of the Christian Church.

In Bulgaria, both apostles are among the most revered saints. This is evidenced by the many churches and monasteries in Bulgaria, which bear the name of the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul. On their feast day known in Bulgaria as Petrovden they all celebrate the bright holiday appropriately with the Holy Liturgy and church celebrations.

According to the Holy Bible, the holy apostles Peter and Paul ended their earthly lives on the same day - June 29, year 67 AD. The Holy Apostle Peter was condemned to a shameful crucifixion, as a pagan, and Saint Paul was cut down with the sword because he was a Roman citizen. 
In order to remember the sufferings of the founders of Christ's teachings and the first Christians, the Church introduced the so-called Peter’s or Apostolic Fast which always begins on the Sunday after Pentecost. 

Unlike the Great Lent, it is not so strict, but the fact that the Church has determined it speaks of the need for spiritual preparation preceding the great church holidays. This means that Christian believers should remember these spiritual teachers, whose names - Peter - "stone" and Paul - "small", speak of the firmness and humility to which Christ's followers should strive.

In the folk calendar, the holiday is associated with the harvest and the first apples – the so-called “petrovki, young animals and the cheerful fairs and gatherings marking the feast.

Many people in Bulgaria also celebrate their name’s day on Saints Peter and Paul’s Day (Petrovden), including those bearing the names Peter, Petya, Pavlina, Polina, Kamen, Pavel and their derived names.

Read more about folk beliefs related to the two apostles in the publication Tales and legends about the brothers Peter and Paul.




Compiled by Darina Grigorova

Photos: BGNES archive, BTA archive


Published by Rositsa Petkova

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.
Radio Bulgaria History and religion    Apostle Paul Apostle Peter Petrovden Saints Peter and Paul

More from category

110 years since the test flight of the first Bulgarian aeroplane

On 10 August 1915, the first Bulgarian-built aeroplane took to the skies for a test flight in Bozhurishte. It was designed by inventor Assen Yordanov, whose name still features in the textbooks used to train pilots and engineers today. From an early..

published on 8/10/25 8:50 AM

Exhibition in Sozopol showcases monuments from ancient cities around the Black Sea

A trilingual exhibition titled “Egyptian Cults around the Black Sea” opens today at 6 PM at the Archaeological Museum in Sozopol , according to BNR – Burgas. Part of an international research project, the exhibition is organized by the Institute of..

published on 8/7/25 5:55 PM
The building of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox church

Bulgarian Orthodox Church calls for vigilance against self-proclaimed spiritual leaders

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has issued an official statement on “pagan neo-Hindu propaganda with pseudo-Christian elements”. The bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church call for greater vigilance against “touring gurus, self-proclaimed “spiritual..

published on 8/7/25 10:14 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly Cloudy
Min: 18 | Max: 36
Partly Cloudy
Min: 24 | Max: 28
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 29
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 35
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 34
Partly Cloudy
Min: 19 | Max: 31
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 35
Partly Cloudy
Min: 18 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 34
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 34
Partly Cloudy
Min: 20 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 35
Partly Cloudy
Min: 22 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 34
Partly Cloudy
Min: 22 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 33
Partly Cloudy
Min: 12 | Max: 29
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 35
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 35
Partly Cloudy
Min: 20 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 34
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

110 years since the test flight of the first Bulgarian aeroplane

On 10 August 1915, the first Bulgarian-built aeroplane took to the skies for a test flight in Bozhurishte. It was designed by inventor Assen Yordanov,..

published on 8/10/25 8:50 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"