On February 10, Christians in Bulgaria honor martyr St. Charalampos of Magnesia. In the Bulgarian tradition, this is one of the last winter holidays. From that day on, people started working on their land again together with the withdrawal of winter.
St. Charalampos lived in the 2nd century in Magnesia, Asia Minor, in an era of terrible persecution against Christians. He was very righteous and even during his lifetime he showed his holiness by spreading the word of God. He was over 100 years old when cruel Roman emperor Septimius Severus subjected him to torture to renounce Christ and tortured him for nearly 13 years. Charalampos remained firm and his faith was healing all his wounds.
Perhaps, because of his miraculous healing people venerate St. Charalampos, giving him the role of healer and guardian of health. In folk traditions the saint protects against plague, so he is often depicted holding it in a jar. Because of this power, the saint is also considered the patron saint of honey and beekeepers, who celebrate their professional holiday on February 10.
Compiled by: Gergana Mancheva
English publication: Al. Markov
In Northeastern Bulgaria the river Rusenski Lom and its tributaries – Cherni, Beli and Malki Lom – have carved out a rugged rocky landscape with hidden caves and hushed valleys where the only sound is that of the birdsong. People have settled in..
His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, and Australia, has blessed the newly elected Parish Council of the Holy Trinity Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Madison, Illinois. The new council was elected..
The revival of Bulgarian statehood after five centuries of Ottoman rule is connected with the April Uprising of 1876 and the Internal Revolutionary Organization previously created by Vasil Levski. After the Treaty of Berlin of 1878, the Bulgarians..
In Northeastern Bulgaria the river Rusenski Lom and its tributaries – Cherni, Beli and Malki Lom – have carved out a rugged rocky landscape with hidden..
+359 2 9336 661