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

Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria pay homage to Saint Catherine

November 24 is celebrated as the name's day of all women named Ekaterina, Katerina, Katya and other variants

2
Photo: Archive

On November 24, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors St. Catherine (Sveta Ekaterina in Bulgarian), who was one of the most educated women of her time. She lived in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries and came from a noble family in Alexandria.

In the Egyptian city, Christians were persecuted and forced to renounce their faith. Catherine was not intimidated, however, but spoke boldly that Jesus Christ was the one true God and that pagan deities were not to be worshipped.

By order of the governor of Alexandria, the young Christian woman was captured, but it became clear that she was not going to renounce her faith. In 305 she was subjected to cruel torture. She was tied to a wheel with sharp teeth, but miraculously it broke and the martyr was finally beheaded.

Saint Catherine is a symbol of purity, wisdom and spiritual strength. She is also the patron saint of scholars, teachers, girls and mothers. 

24 November is the name day of all people called Ekaterina or its derivatives like Katerina, Katya etc. 

Learn more about how this day is marked in Bulgaria in the following publications from Radio Bulgaria's archival collection:

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    Bulgarian Orthodox Church Saint Catherine Sveta Ekaterina

Gallery

More from category

The public has a rare opportunity to see the original Panagyurishte Gold Treasure at the History Museum in Panagyurishte.

Panagyurishte Gold Treasure – the original – is back in Panagyurishte

From 16 September, the History Museum in Panagyurishte will be hosting the original Panagyurishte Gold Treasure. The priceless find will be displayed in the museum’s secure vault hall, where it can be seen until October 23. The treasure will be on..

published on 9/16/25 8:05 AM

It is the Day of the Holy Cross

On September 14, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church bows down before the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified . The Exaltation of the Holy Cross of the Lord or Cross Day is one of the 12 great Christian holidays.  It is one of the four days..

published on 9/14/25 6:05 AM

Bulgaria celebrates the 140th anniversary of the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia

Today, Bulgaria celebrates the 140th anniversary of the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. The center of the festivities is Plovdiv, where on this day in 1885, after the entry of the Golyamo Konare detachment into the..

published on 9/6/25 10:45 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Clear
Min: 9 | Max: 28
Partly Cloudy
Min: 14 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 16 | Max: 25
Clear
Min: 9 | Max: 30
Clear
Min: 12 | Max: 28
Clear
Min: 11 | Max: 28
Clear
Min: 9 | Max: 27
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 26
Clear
Min: 10 | Max: 27
Clear
Min: 8 | Max: 28
Clear
Min: 12 | Max: 28
Clear
Min: 13 | Max: 29
Clear
Min: 12 | Max: 29
Clear
Min: 6 | Max: 25
Clear
Min: 12 | Max: 28
Clear
Min: 11 | Max: 29
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 26
Partly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 30
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 14 | Max: 27
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 13 | Max: 27
Clear
Min: 6 | Max: 23
Clear
Min: 8 | Max: 26
Partly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 29
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 27
Clear
Min: 12 | Max: 28
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 27
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 28
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

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

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