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It is the Day of the Cross!

Photo: BGNES

On September 14, the Church celebrates the Day of the Cross. It is among the Twelve Great Christian Feasts. Today we commemorate the finding of the Holy Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. 
Church history has it that the cross was discovered in Jerusalem in the 4th century by the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great - Saint Helena. Part of it was sent to Constantinople, and another part was laid in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The temple was solemnly consecrated on September 14, the year 335 AD, and the cross was put on display for the worship of thousands of believers. Since that day, the day has been celebrated as the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, also known in Bulgaria as Krastovden (the Day of the Cross). In Sofia, too, a piece of the Cross is kept, in the temple "Exaltation of the Holy Cross of the Lord", which today celebrates its temple feast.
On the Mount of the Cross, hundreds of faithful will greet the feast with reverence and hope for the healing of the sick and suffering. Traditionally, a strict fast is observed on the Feast of the Cross and a water service is celebrated. Priests consecrate homes and thresh houses for blessing and fertility.

In some areas of the country, the holiday is also associated with the beginning of the grape harvest or winter plowing and sowing. Folk believe that on Krastovden, day and night align and the sun begins its journey back to winter.
Krastovden is also the name day for all who bear the name Krum, Krumina, Krumka or Krumcho.
Happy holiday and name day to all who celebrate it!

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Radio Bulgaria History and religion    Day of the cross Exaltation of the Holy Cross Krastovden

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