Easter Monday in Bulgaria: Tradition and Family Visits
Orthodox Easter Monday is the day following Easter Sunday and is observed across Bulgaria as part of the wider Easter celebration within the Orthodox Christian tradition
HOT: » Which party would you vote for (if you could) in the upcoming snap vote in Bulgaria on April 19?
Three of Maria's presumed siblings - it was reported that the little baby is not a natural redhead, but the mother had dyed her hair with henna to chase away illnesses. Photo bTV
Bulgarian police have taken to the capital Sofia the alleged parents of the blond girl, found in a Roma camp in Greece, for further questioning and for DNA tests.
The family was driven away in a police car overnight with three of their children.
The child, known as Maria and aged about four, was found by Greek police during a drug raid on a Roma community near Larissa in central Greece.
A 40-year old woman and 39 -year-old man have been arrested and charged with kidnapping, since DNA tests revealed that the couple with whom Maria lived was not her biological parents.
Greek authorities then requested assistance from Interpol to find the parents of the girl.
The Greek journalists published the ID cards of the family with the prosecution's permission. This led the authorities to the Roma quarters of the Bulgarian village of Nikolaevo in the central Stara Zagora region.
Before being taken away by police, the presumed biological mother, Sasha Ruseva, spoke to the crowd of journalists, who gathered in the village after the news made headlines.
She said she gave Maria as "gift" to an acquaintance in Greece, who was childless and offered to take care of the girl. At the time, the child was 7-months old and was named Stanka.
"I have not taken any money, I gave her because we are poor," the Roma woman is adamant.
The "adoptive" parents have assured her she could visit the child whenever she wanted, but after she returned to Bulgaria, Sasha became pregnant twice more and never again saw the baby.
"I would take her back now, though I have no money, said she.
Sasha and Atanas have between 7 and 10 children. However, they, themselves, are not sure of the exact number. Five of the children in the family have light skin and bear an obvious resemblance to the girl found in Greece.
The family is very poor and all live in one room.
bTV also reported that the "blond" gene of the five children was inherited from the mother Sasha who has albinos in her kin.
Greek psychologists established that Maria has been abused. They say she is very aggressive and describe her reactions as those of "a beast."
Holy Saturday, known in Bulgaria as Lazarus Saturday’s continuation of the Easter cycle, is a quiet but deeply symbolic day in the Orthodox Christian calendar
Health authorities in Bulgaria report a total of 101 confirmed measles cases across the country, according to data from the Ministry of Health
Good Friday, known in Bulgaria as Razpeti petak, is one of the most solemn and deeply observed days in the Orthodox Christian calendar
The Bulgarian scientific research vessel “Sts. Cyril and Methodius” (NIC 421) has returned to Varna, docking at the Marine Station and marking the official end of the country’s 34th Antarctic expedition
Holiday weather conditions are expected to remain mixed across Bulgaria, with alternating periods of sunshine and rain showers, according to the forecast
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has decided that no official delegation will travel to Jerusalem this year to receive the Holy Fire, citing the ongoing tensions in the Middle East
Aniventure Comic Con Returns to Bulgaria with Star Guest Christopher Judge!
Global Fuel Shock: Oil Jumps Over 40% Since Iran War Began