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

Day of holy martyr Zlata Maglenska - patroness of Bulgarians around the world

Photo: bg.wikipedia.org

On this day, Orthodox Christians pay homage to the Holy Great Martyr Zlata Maglenska. She lived during the Ottoman rule in the second half of the 18th century and sacrificed herself for her faith in Christ.

Zlata Maglenska was born in a poor Bulgarian family in the village of Slatino, Maglenska Diocese - today within the borders of Greece. She was a beautiful, but humble girl, known for her piety and pure heart. One day a young Turk kidnapped her, demanding that she renounce her faith, convert to Islam and marry him. However, the girl remained adamant, even when her family was threatened with death.

Zlata Mаglenska was tortured for a long time. Finally, she was hanged and her body cut into pieces. With a soul purified in suffering, she presented herself before the Lord on October 18, 1795.


Saint Zlata Maglenska is declared a great martyr and is revered throughout the Orthodox Christian world.
Following a proposal of the historian Prof. Plamen Pavlov, since 2009 Saint Zlata Maglenska has been chosen as the heavenly intercessor of Bulgarians abroad. 

The Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad has established an award for Bulgarian Woman of the Year in her name, which is awarded to Bulgarian women who have contributed to the preservation and development of the national consciousness and cultural identity of the Bulgarian communities around the world.

Translated and 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.

More from category

Passion Week - The days of Christ's suffering

Passion Week is the last week before Easter. It is also the most austere week of fasting at the end of the long Great Lent, which prepares the faithful for Christ's Resurrection. It begins after the Sunday on which Christians celebrate the Lord's entry..

published on 4/14/25 7:30 AM

Hieromonk Gavriil elected new abbot of Zograf Monastery

The Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos has a new abbot. Hieromonk Gavriil has been elected as the new abbot of the monastery, reported the website of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. "On Lazarus Saturday, the Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos held elections to..

published on 4/12/25 5:55 PM

Museum of Archaeology in Burgas displays pipes and tobacco from Medieval Bulgaria

Pipes from the end of the 17 th , the 18 th and the 19 th century and the tradition of growing tobacco in Bulgaria are presented in the newest exposition at the Museum of Archaeology in Burgas. “Pipes like this are to be found often on the..

published on 4/5/25 8:30 AM