Divine services have been held in churches across Bulgaria on Friday to mark the holiday of the Prophet Iliya. Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Bulgaria marks Friday the 104th anniversary since the legendary Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising, organized to fight the fractioning of the country.
The 1878 Berlin Congress preceded the rebellion. It broke in 1903, on the day when the Holy Prophet Iliya is honoured - "Ilinden."
In Bulgaria, this is also Name's Day for those named Iliya, Iliyan or Iliyana.
In Bulgarian folklore, the face of Prophet Iliya is a hybrid of Christian and pagan mythology. He is believed to be the master of summer storms, hail, rain, thunder and dew.
Icons usually picture him riding in a gold-plated chariot, with four white horses in harness.