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

Bulgarians across the country take out the cross on Epiphany

Photo: BTA

On January 6, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is marking Epiphany. According to the Bible, on this day John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. Traditionally, a festive Epiphany liturgy is held in churches, water is blessed, and then the priests throw the cross into a body of water. According to legend, men participate in the taking out of the cross, and whoever catches it will be healthy throughout the year.

In Sofia, this happened on the lake in Druzhba district, and the cross was saved by 24-year-old Nikolay Dimitrov. 40 men took part in the ritual, the youngest of whom was 18 years old, and the oldest - 84 years old, Focus news agency reported.

Kalin Uzunov from Burgas holding the Epiphany cross
In Burgas, Russians and Ukrainians gathered in the largest church in the city to pray for peace on today's Epiphany holiday. The cross was traditionally thrown from the Bridge near the Sea Casino, and was retrieved by 18-year-old Kalin Uzunov, BNR correspondent Daniela Kostadinova reported.

In Silistra, the cross was thrown into the waters of the Danube and was retrieved by 23-year-old student Galin Stoev.

43-year-old Onnik Tarakchiyan, an Orthodox Christian of Armenian origin, saved the cross on Epiphany in Pernik. The holiday began with a procession from the central Pernik church to the lake in the town park.

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    Epiphany Epiphany cross

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: 8 | Max: 25
Clear
Min: 13 | Max: 24
Clear
Min: 13 | Max: 24
Clear
Min: 7 | Max: 27
Clear
Min: 10 | Max: 26
Clear
Min: 8 | Max: 25
Clear
Min: 8 | Max: 24
Clear
Min: 7 | Max: 23
Clear
Min: 8 | Max: 25
Clear
Min: 6 | Max: 26
Clear
Min: 12 | Max: 26
Clear
Min: 11 | Max: 27
Clear
Min: 11 | Max: 27
Clear
Min: 6 | Max: 24
Clear
Min: 10 | Max: 26
Clear
Min: 10 | Max: 28
Clear
Min: 8 | Max: 23
Clear
Min: 8 | Max: 26
Clear
Min: 11 | Max: 25
Clear
Min: 12 | Max: 25
Clear
Min: 4 | Max: 21
Clear
Min: 6 | Max: 24
Clear
Min: 8 | Max: 27
Clear
Min: 8 | Max: 24
Clear
Min: 11 | Max: 26
Clear
Min: 7 | Max: 25
Clear
Min: 9 | Max: 26
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"