BULGARIA CELEBRATES EPIPHANY

On 6th of January every year, Bulgaria celebrates one of the most ancient Christian holidays known as St. Jordan’s Day (Epiphany). It falls on the twelfth day after Christmas and marks the day Jesus was baptised in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

The main ritual on this day is throwing of the cross. It is performed by a priest who throws a wooden cross into the river, sea or lake. Men dive in the ice-cold water and race to retrieve the cross. It is believed that the man who first takes the cross out of the water will be blessed to be healthy throughout the year. The priest delivers a special blessing to that man and his household.

In the South Bulgarian town of Kalofer, the rituals lasts longer. A large group of men and boys go in the icy waters of Tundzha river early in the morning and perform the unique men’s dance called “Mazhko horo”. In Kalofer it does not matter who catches the cross because as a tradition it goes to the youngest boy who went into the freezing waters of Tundzha river. This year it is the 5 year old Stiliyan Nikolaev.

The ritual is followed by a festive liturgy. The Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte serves a Great Blessing of Waters Liturgy in St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia.

As part of the tradition, water blessing of the Bulgarian military flags and the flags and banners of the sacred places of the Bulgarian Army took place in front of the Monument of the Unknown Soldier in the capital city of Sofia.

The feast has different names in the different regions of the country: Bogoyavlenie (“Manifestation of God”), Krashtenie Gospodne (“Baptism of the Lord”) or Yordanovden (“Day of Jordan”, referring to the river).

In Bulgaria the holiday has a special place in the cultural tradition since many people are named Jordan and celebrate their name day.

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