Bulgaria Marks St. Jordan's Day

Society | January 6, 2005, Thursday // 00:00
Bulgaria Marks St. Jordan's Day Single men traditionally dive on St. Jordan's Day, January 6, and the one who finds the Epiphany cross in the freezing waters is believed to enjoy year-round health and success. Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (Sofia News Agency)

The Christ-aged Georgi Todorov of varna was the man to deliver the cross from the sea waters this year, following the tradition on St. Jordan's Day.

On St. Jordan's Day a cross is thrown into a river or a lake and men just to take it out. It is believed that the first person that reaches the cross will enjoy good health during the entire year.

On January 6, Bulgarian people celebrate Epiphany or St. Jordan's Day.

According to the Bible, on this day Jesus was baptized in the river of Jordan by the John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit came to Him as a white dove.

The festival has different names in the different parts of the country, some of them are Krastovden (Day of the Cross) or Voditzi (Waters). The night before St. Jordan's Day is the last one of the "incensed" nights.

According to the popular belief, in the dead of night on Epiphany the skies open and everyone who sees them will be given by God all that he wishes.

On this day the Bulgarian Patriarch performs the water-blessing-of-the-colours service, a tradition on Epiphany. The religious-military ritual is believed to bring health and success to the whole nation and was first performed for Bulgaria's warriors in 917 AD.

Patriarch Maxim, head of Bulgaria's Orthodox Church is to perform Thursday the water-blessing-of-the-colours service, a tradition on Epiphany. The religious-military ritual will take place in front of the Unknown Soldier Monument in St Alexander Nevsky Square in Sofia.

It is believed to bring health and success to the whole nation and was first performed for Bulgaria's warriors in 917 AD.

President Parvanov, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, Defense Minister Svinarov, the chief of the General Staff of Bulgarian Armed Forces Gen. Kolev are expected to attend the ceremony.

On St. Jordan's Day a cross is thrown into a river or a lake and men just to take it out. It is believed that the first person that reaches the cross will enjoy good health during the entire year.

In Sofia the ritual will take place at the Druzhba lake. Many brave men are expected to compete to reach the thrown cross first.

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