The Great Lent Begins Today: A Time of Spiritual Renewal
Today marks the commencement of the Great Lent, or the Great Fast a period of profound significance in the Christian calendar
HOT: » Assessing the Legacy of Bulgaria's "Denkov" Cabinet: Achievements, Failures, and What Comes Next
Bulgaria marks on April 12th Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries.
Maundy Thursday is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The day is preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday.
The Mass of the Lord's Supper initiates the Easter Triduum, the three days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday that commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lenten character of the services is for the most part set aside, and they follow a format closer to normal. The liturgical colors are changed from the somber Lenten hues to more festive colors (red is common in the Slavic practice). The ceremony of the Washing of Feet will normally be performed in monasteries and cathedrals. Because of the joy of the Institution of the Eucharist, on this day alone during Holy Week wine and oil are permitted at meals. In the evening, after the Liturgy, all of the hangings and vestments are changed to black or some other Lenten color, to signify the beginning of the Passion.
In Bulgaria Maundy Thursday is called Veliki Chetvurtuk (Great Thursday), and is traditionally the day when people color their Easter eggs and perform other household chores geared toward preparing for Razpeti Petuk (Crucifixion Friday), Velika Subota (Great Saturday) and Velikden (Easter Day).
Easter eggs can also be colored on Great Saturday. According to the tradition, the first egg is always red and replaces the one from the previous year. The second egg is colored red as well and it is left in the church Saturday evening during the mass, which begins at midnight. The remaining eggs can be of any color.
On Veliki Chetvartak Bulgarians also prepare the dough for the Easter breads and for the traditional kozunak – a sweet bread that represents the body of Christ as the red eggs symbolize his blood.
Maundy Thursday, Easter, Orthodox, Veliki Chetvartak, eggs, kozunak
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
As the Saturday following Shrovetide arrives, Bulgarians across the nation come together to celebrate Todorovden, a cherished tradition deeply rooted in both Christian faith and folk customs
In the annals of Bulgarian history, few figures shine as brightly as Rayna Knyaginya, a name synonymous with unwavering courage, national pride, and the spirit of resistance against oppression
Bulgaria commemorated its 146th anniversary of liberation from Ottoman rule with grand celebrations spanning across the nation
Today, on the revered national holiday of March 3, thousands of Bulgarians congregated at the historic Shipka peak and its surroundings to commemorate the sacrifices made for the country's freedom.
As Bulgaria commemorates its National Day on March 3rd, nearly 400,000 Bulgarians residing in Germany join in the celebration, highlighting the vibrant and dynamic presence of the Bulgarian diaspora in the country
Every year on March 3rd, Bulgarians come together to celebrate their National Holiday, marking a pivotal moment in their history – the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022