site.btaWater Blessing Ceremony of Military Colours Takes Place in Sofia

Sofia, January 6 (BTA) - A traditional Epiphany water blessing ceremony of the military colours and the sacred flags of the Bulgarian Army took place in Sofia on Saturday. Bulgarian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Rumen Radev took part in the ritual in the St Alexander Nevsky Square where he reviewed the troops and laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Attending were Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov, Defence Chief Lieutenant General Andrey Botsev, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, senior military commanders, MPs, diplomats, politicians, public figures and members of the public.

A water blessing service was held at military installations across the country.

In remarks during the blessing of the sacred flags, Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte said: "On this holiest of days we once again feel the strength of our unity and like-mindedness. We pay homage to the feats and pray for all known and unknown Bulgarian army heroes who sacrificed and are sacrificing their lives for the freedom and independence of our people, for the sake of its unity and the Bulgarian statehood."

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany on January 6, locally known as "Yordanovden" [the Day of the River Jordan]. It is the third most significant Christian holiday of the year and the oldest.

In an old Epiphany ritual that has come down the ages, a priest throws a cross into the nearest water basin, and young men dive to recover it from the icy water. Reaching the cross first is considered a sign of good luck and health.