Bulgarian Orthodox Christians Mark Archangel All Souls’ Day
6/11/2010
Bulgaria’s Christian Orthodox Church honors Saturday the All Souls’ Day before the Day of St. Archangel Michael, 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 commemorations a solemn mass will be served at the Military Cemetery in Sofia in the presence of President, Georgi Parvanov, Defense Minister, Anyu Angelov, high-ranking military officers, servicemen, and representatives of Bulgarian Patriotic Unions.
Masses and ceremonies will also be held at the Sofia Military Academy “Georgi S. Rakovski,” and “The St. Nedelya” cathedral along with many events all across the country.
Head of Defense, Gen. Simeon Simeonov, will travel to the village of Berantsi in Macedonia to be present for the memorial services and pay tribute to 120 Bulgarian soldiers, who perished in World War I, and are buried there.
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.
