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

Water blessing ceremony of the Bulgarian Army Flags to take place on Epiphany

President Radev at the water blessing ceremony in central Sofia on Epiphany (archive)
Photo: president.bg

On January 6, the feast of Epiphany, the traditional water blessing of the battle flags and holy flags of the Bulgarian Army will be celebrated in all garrisons of the country. The solemn ritual in Sofia will begin at 11:00 in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. 

The water blessing ceremony will be held by His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil. 

The ceremony will be attended by the Bulgarian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Rumen Radev, who will accept the honorary formation of the representative units of the Bulgarian Army and lay a wreath in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Vice President Iliana Iotova, Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov and Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov will also be present.



For the first time, the blessing of the battle flags was performed during the reign of Tsar Simeon I before the Battle of Aheloy in 917. Until the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman rule, the blessing of the flags was performed before every battle fought by the Bulgarian army. 

After the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule in 1878, the tradition was restored by the first military minister of the Principality of Bulgaria, Pyotr Dmitrievich Parensov, and continued until 1946, the Ministry of Defense indicates. After the fall of Communism in Bulgaria, the ritual was restored in 1993.

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 News    battle flags Epiphany flags of the Bulgarian army water blessing of the Bulgarian military flags

More from category

German foreign minister Johann Wadeful in Sofia

Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul comments on processes in the Middle East during Sofia visit

During his visit to Bulgaria, which coincided with the signing of the Gaza agreement in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul  commented on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Bulgaria and..

published on 10/14/25 9:15 AM
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul (left) with Bulgarian foregn minister Georg Georgiev

Bulgaria and Germany discuss the future “European Sky Shield” system

The relations between Bulgaria and Germany are excellent. Germany is among our closest strategic partners. This was stated by Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev after a meeting with his visiting German counterpart Johann Wadephul. The two discussed..

published on 10/14/25 8:50 AM
Silvi Kirilov

Minister of Health to inaugurate helipad at Gabrovo Multiprofile Hospital

Health Minister, Silvi Kirilov, will officially open the newly built helicopter landing pad at the Dr Tota Venkova Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment in Gabrovo today, the hospital's press office has announced. The helipad was certified at the..

published on 10/14/25 8:15 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Overcast, rain
Min: 8 | Max: 14
Cloudy
Min: 12 | Max: 18
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 12 | Max: 17
Overcast, rain
Min: 7 | Max: 15
Overcast, rain
Min: 6 | Max: 14
Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 19
Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 17
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 17
Overcast, rain
Min: 7 | Max: 17
Overcast, rain
Min: 6 | Max: 13
Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 18
Overcast, rain
Min: 7 | Max: 15
Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 17
Overcast, rain
Min: 7 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 17
Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 18
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 16
Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 19
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 18
Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 17
Overcast, rain
Min: 5 | Max: 12
Overcast, rain
Min: 7 | Max: 13
Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 18
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 17
Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 18
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 17
Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 19
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
MOST VIEWED

Sofia reports 10% rise in tourist arrivals in 2025

Between January and September 2025, Bulgaria’s capital recorded a 10% increase in tourist arrivals and a 6% rise in overnight stays compared with the same..

published on 10/15/25 6:09 PM

President Rumen Radev gives awards to three Air Force officers

Three Air Force officers were presented with the Presidential Badge of Honor, BTA reports. The head of state presented the award to..

published on 10/15/25 4:40 PM

Significant cloudiness and precipitation in the mountains and eastern regions

On Thursday , the lowest temperatures will be between 4 and 9°C; in Sofia – about 4°C. During the day, there will be significant..

published on 10/15/25 7:30 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

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