site.btaChristmas in Bulgaria

ESD 16:02:01 25-12-2018
LG1605ES.101
101 CHRISTMAS - LITURGY

Christmas
in
Bulgaria


Sofia, December 25 (BTA) - In a Christmas message, read out at a festive liturgy at the St Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral in Sofia on Tuesday morning, Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte and the metropolitans of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church called on Bulgarians at home and abroad to open their hearts and do everything in their power so that nobody would be left without companionship and hope.

The spiritual leaders greeted their flock on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ and wished them health, spiritual success and peace in their families, schools and public institutions, so that there will be more grace, tolerance, goodwill and love.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev attended the festive service at the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. In a Facebook post, the head of State wished his compatriots even more warmth and love at their homes during the Christmas season. "Let us be healthy and happy, and let us become better. Let us do a small good thing every day: smile to a stranger, extend a hand to a close one or just to somebody in need."

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov wished Bulgarians peace, love and prosperity. "Let us be better and humbler," he wrote on his Facebook page.

In Bulgaria, Christmas is marked by a folk custom called koleduvane: between midnight and dawn on Christmas eve, koledari (groups of men who are bachelors, engaged or recently marries) call at all houses in the settlement to sing special Christmas songs, wishing the hosts health, happiness and a bountiful harvest, and are treated with special Christmas crullers, cash and various food items. LN/LG