Current News

Current News

St Valentine's Day

St Valentine's Day

2/14/2008 9:34:13 AM

A feast that has nothing to do with the traditional calendar but gets more and more popular lately. There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.

Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honor Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia. The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honor of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.

The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavored to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feast. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.

Name day of everyone named Valentin, Valentina, Valya.

 

March 3rd - the National Day of Bulgaria
What happened on that day and how long has it been celebrated? The San Stefano Peace Treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire was signed on February 19th (March 3rd, ...
Today is the BABA MARTA DAY
Today is the BABA MARTA DAY
3/1/2024 8:00:00 AM
If you by any chance visit Bulgaria on the first day of March you are certain to notice almost every person decorated with small tokens made from red and white woollen threads.
Anniversary of the death of Vassil Levski
Today is the 148th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest fighters for Bulgarian independence during the period of the Ottoman oprresion
 Bulgarians Celebrate Love of Wine and Each Other
As lovers celebrate St Valentine's Day, many Bulgarians insist February 14 should be reserved for a traditional Bulgarian celebration - the feast of St. Trifon Zarezan.
ST.VLASSIOS/ BLASSIOS (also Hieromartyr Blaise)
Name day of Vlasso
ST. HARALAMBOS (Charalambos) the Martyr
Name day of everyone named Haralampij, Haralambi, Hari, Harry, Valentin/a, Valery, Valeria.
MEETING OF THE LORD
MEETING OF THE LORD
2/2/2024 9:00:00 AM
The Feast of the Meeting of the Lord is among the most ancient feasts of the Christian Church.
WOLF DAYS - February 2-3
WOLF DAYS - February 2-3
2/2/2024 8:00:00 AM
Name day of everyone names Simeon, Simeonka, Simona, Moncho (February 3rd).
TRIPHON ZAREZAN
TRIPHON ZAREZAN
2/1/2024 8:00:00 AM
Name day of everyone named Trifon, Trifonka, Lozan
Anniversary of the birth of Baba Vanga, the world-famous BG prophet and clairvoyant
Baba Vanga, born Vangelia Goushterova, (31 January 1911 - 11 August 1996) was a famous Bulgarian prophet that lived in the Rupite area in Rila Mountain, Bulgaria.