Good Friday: A Day of Reflection in Bulgaria
Good Friday, known in Bulgaria as Razpeti petak, is one of the most solemn and deeply observed days in the Orthodox Christian calendar
Prophetic Dream Leads to Discovery of Old Icon in Bulgaria
- Tweet
Send to Kindle
The church of Lopushna monastery in Bulgaria in northwestern Bulgaria, photo BGNES
A walled-up ancient icon has been found in the church of Bulgarian Lopushna Monastery "St John the Baptist."
This was announced Friday by Archimandrite Sioniy - abbot of the monastery. The discovered icon, depicting the Virgin Mary and the baby, has a silver lining, and is more than 320 years old.
An unknown at first woman has phoned to tell the abbot of a dream she had that pointed to her where the icon of the Virgin Mary and little Jesus Christ was hidden. Sioniy, cited by Bulgarian news agency BTA, says that he and priests from the monastery went to this exact same place several days ago and found in a secret compartment in the wall a well preserved icon that was probably hidden there in 1688 to keep it safe from invasions.
"The woman with the prophetic dream is an elderly lady and a deeply believing and devoted Christian. She lives in Sofia and her name is Maria," says the Archimandrite.
The back of the sacred find reveals that it was placed in a temple where there was a fire because its one side is burnt. Two evergreen cypresses are depicted as well as they are symbol of eternity in Orthodoxy.
Sioniy believes that this icon was painted in the years when the place was an old monastery, which was destroyed in 1688b by Ottoman Turks after a local uprising against the Ottoman Empire was suppressed.
Related Articles:
Annunciation Brings Joy as Thousands in Bulgaria Mark Their Name Day
On March 25, Annunciation is marked across Bulgaria, with more than 17,000 people celebrating their name day. According to reported data, a total of 17,046 Bulgarians are marking the occasion, including 8,508 men and 8,538 women.
Wine and Martyrdom: Bulgaria Marks St. Agatha’s Day
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church today commemorates Saint Agatha the Martyr. On this day, people bearing the names Dobrin, Dobromir, Dobri, as well as women with related female names, mark their name day.
Bulgaria Celebrates Petlovden: Traditions, Blessings, and Folk Beliefs
In Bulgaria, February 2 marks the celebration of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as the Meeting of the Infant Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple, a major holiday in the Christian calendar
Bulgaria Marks St. Stephen’s Day, Honoring the First Christian Martyr and Closing the Christmas Cycle
On St. Stephen’s Day, observed on the third day of Christmas, the Orthodox Church commemorates the first Christian martyr, closing the traditional cycle of year-end Christian celebrations
Century-Old Church and Rare Artifacts Discovered at Near Bulgaria's Ahtopol
Archaeologists in Ahtopol have uncovered the longest ancient church on Bulgaria’s Southern Black Sea coast, challenging previous assumptions about the area’s history
Century-Old Church and Rare Artifacts Discovered at Near Bulgaria's Ahtopol
Archaeologists in Ahtopol have uncovered the longest ancient church on Bulgaria’s Southern Black Sea coast, challenging previous assumptions about the area’s history
Kaliakra 2025 Expedition Reveals Ancient Coins, Statuettes, and Religious Relics
The “Kaliakra 2025” archaeological expedition, which is drawing to a close, has unearthed more than 400 significant historical artifacts
Dinosaur Rib and Rare Fossils Unearthed Near Tran in Bulgaria
Paleontologists have uncovered new dinosaur fossils near the Bulgarian town of Tran during the Eighth Paleontological Expedition organized by the National Museum of Natural History
Bulgarian Archaeologists Unearth Medieval ‘City of the Hobbits’ at Perperikon
Archaeologists at Perperikon have unearthed new discoveries, shedding further light on the site's medieval past
Restored Statue from Heraclea Sintica Unveiled in Sofia after Months-Long Conservation
For the first time, the second marble statue uncovered at Heraclea Sintica, in Bulgaria, has been displayed fully restored - standing tall, with its head in place
New Archaeological Find Sheds Light on Bulgaria’s Roman-Era Stronghold
An archaeological find of notable importance has emerged from the Kokalyanski Urvich Fortress near Sofia.
