Bulgaria Orthodox Christians Mark Archangel All Souls’ Day

Society | November 7, 2009, Saturday

The formal ritual of the Bulgarian state and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church for honoring the souls of the fallen soldiers on Archangel All Souls Day took place at the Monument of the Unknown Warrior in Soifa Saturday. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Christian Orthodox Church honors Saturday the All Souls' Day before the Day of St. Archangel Michael (November 8, Sunday), or the so-called Archangel All Souls' Day.

All Souls' Day is also known as the Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed. The Eastern Orthodox Church dedicates several days throughout the year to the dead, mostly on Saturdays, because of Jesus' resting in the tomb on Saturday with the All Souls' Day before Pe having a special significance.

Archangel All Souls’ Day is also known as Men’s All Souls’ Day. This is the day when the souls of all those who died as fighters for Bulgaria are honored, including those who served in the modern Bulgarian Army.

As part of the honoring the souls of the dead Bulgarian soldiers, Bulgaria’s Diaspora Minister, Bozhidar Dimitrov, visited the Novo Selo military cemetery at Novo Selo, Macedonia, which is the location of one of the largest Bulgarian military cemeteries outside of Bulgaria. It is the burial site of some of the Bulgarian soldiers killed on the Balkan Front of World War I.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church rituals honoring the souls of the fallen soldiers on Archangel All Souls’ Day first started in 1924. Their holding was terminated in 1946, after the communist coup of 1944, and was restored in 1992.