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

Today is Petkovden, the day of St Petka

Photo: BGNES

On 14 October, he Bulgarian Orthodox church honours Saint Paraskeva, also called St. Petka of Tarnovo.

The icon of Saint Petka depicts a pretty young woman in a nun’s habit, or in royal attire, with a cross in her left hand and with her right hand at her chest. The icon is usually life-size, and sometimes St. Nedelya or St. Anastasia of Tarnovo are depicted next to her. Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo is author of one of the most famous passionals of St. Petka.

In the Bulgarian folk calendar, Petkovden marks the end of the active farming season. To mark the day, ritual loaves of bread are baked, and the table is laden with mutton, soup, leek stew and stuffed sarmi.

Find out more about St. Petka:



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

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks start of ecclesiastical New Year on September 1

The New Church Year begins on September 1. The month of September is the seventh month of the year according to the Jewish calendar. It is associated with a number of biblical events, which is why it was designated as the beginning of the Church New..

published on 9/1/25 12:19 PM

In the footsteps of medieval monks – the hidden face of the Ivanovo Rock Monastery

High in the canyon of the Rusenski Lom River lies one of the most impressive spiritual centers of Bulgaria. It is a complex of dozens of rock-hewn cells, chapels and churches carved on both sides of the river , which came to life in the 13th century..

published on 8/31/25 11:35 AM

A liturgy was held on St. John Island near Sozopol for the first time in 500 years

For the first time in 500 years, the chants of the Divine Liturgy echoed through the ruins of the medieval monastery ''St. John the Baptist'' on St. John Island near Sozopol. The occasion was the commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist,..

published on 8/29/25 11:30 AM