Bulgarian Orthodox church honours Ascension Day

The Orthodox Church on June 2, 2022, celebrates the Ascension of Jesus Christ (Ascension Day). The feast is always celebrated on Thursday, forty days after Easter.

According to Christian beliefs, after his resurrection Jesus Christ remained on Earth to preach his teachings and converse with his disciples, moving among them as the God-man. On the 40th day, at the foot of the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, he ascended into heaven. With Christ's ascension, the act of human salvation is completed and that is why the day is called the Day of Ascension.

According to the traditional folk calendar, the seven Thursdays after Easter worship against hailstorms, and the last of them - "Spasovden" is associated with the cult to the dead. "Spasovden" (the Day of St. Spas) is the popular name of the Feast of the Ascension. According to to traditional beliefs, the souls of all dead that were loose since Maundy Thursday are reaped on that day.

According to the Bulgarian folk beliefs on the 40th day of Easter, there are mystical creatures called ''samodivi'' (nymphs). They pick and decorate themselves with blossoms from the Nymphs Flower also known as Rossen (dew) or in English “Burning Bush”, which bloomed in the night before the feast. They have the magic power of healing the sick. That is why on the eve of the holiday all sick and infirm people go to sleep on the dew meadows. According to folk beliefs, only the night before Spasovden can cure infertility.

It is the name day for Spas, Spasena, Spasimir, Spasimira, Spasiyana, Spaska.

The day is a celebration of bakers and confectioners.

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