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

Cheesefare Sunday prepares the faithful for Great Lent and repentance

Photo: BTA

Today is Cheesefare Sunday. According to Orthodox tradition, this day is observed on the eve of Great Lent, when Christians seek and give forgiveness to each other. It is also known as Sirni Zagovezni because it marks the last day before Lent, when those fasting are allowed to eat dairy products and eggs.

Photo: BGNES
During the evening service, the faithful turn to one another with the words "Be forgiven! Forgive me!", embracing as a sign of brotherly love. Families gather and children humbly ask their parents for forgiveness.
For the Church, Great Lent is the most important fast of all, because it spiritually prepares the faithful for the most glorious feast - the Resurrection of Christ. In this sense, forgiveness is seen as an essential condition for communion with God.

The Church encourages the faithful to cleanse their hearts of accumulated grievances and to embrace mercy, humility and reconciliation - to make peace with their enemies and show compassion to all.

This can be achieved through fasting which is not only a restriction of food, but also a renunciation of various comforts and distractions that feed the ego.It also helps one turn inward, reflect on one's sins, and sincerely repent for actions driven by pride.

Through this purification of soul and body, believers prepare for union with God through Holy Communion.

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    cheesefare sunday sirni zagovezni

More from category

110 years since the test flight of the first Bulgarian aeroplane

On 10 August 1915, the first Bulgarian-built aeroplane took to the skies for a test flight in Bozhurishte. It was designed by inventor Assen Yordanov, whose name still features in the textbooks used to train pilots and engineers today. From an early..

published on 8/10/25 8:50 AM

Exhibition in Sozopol showcases monuments from ancient cities around the Black Sea

A trilingual exhibition titled “Egyptian Cults around the Black Sea” opens today at 6 PM at the Archaeological Museum in Sozopol , according to BNR – Burgas. Part of an international research project, the exhibition is organized by the Institute of..

published on 8/7/25 5:55 PM
The building of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox church

Bulgarian Orthodox Church calls for vigilance against self-proclaimed spiritual leaders

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has issued an official statement on “pagan neo-Hindu propaganda with pseudo-Christian elements”. The bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church call for greater vigilance against “touring gurus, self-proclaimed “spiritual..

published on 8/7/25 10:14 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 14 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 15 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 36
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

110 years since the test flight of the first Bulgarian aeroplane

On 10 August 1915, the first Bulgarian-built aeroplane took to the skies for a test flight in Bozhurishte. It was designed by inventor Assen Yordanov,..

published on 8/10/25 8:50 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

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