In Bulgaria, as in many Orthodox Christian countries, several holidays and observances follow the liturgical calendar and are therefore influenced by the same calculations determining the date of Orthodox Easter. These include:
Great Lent
Great Lent (Велики пости) is the Orthodox Christian period of preparation for Easter, involving fasting and prayer. Easter determines its start date; it begins on Clean Monday, 48 days before Easter Sunday, and lasts 40 days (not counting Sundays).
Lazarus Saturday (Лазаровден)
Celebrated on the day before Palm Sunday, Lazarus Saturday occurs eight days before Easter. It commemorates Jesus’ raising of Lazarus and serves as a prelude to Christ’s resurrection, celebrated at Easter.
Todorovden (Тодоровден)
Todorovden, also known as the Feast of Saint Theodore, is another significant holiday in Bulgaria, influenced by the Orthodox Christian liturgical calendar. However, its calculation does not directly depend on the date of Easter. Todorovden is celebrated on the first Saturday of Great Lent. While its date is indirectly related to Easter because the timing of Great Lent depends on it, Todorovden falls at a more specific point in the Lenten season.
Palm Sunday (Цветница or Връбница)
This Sunday before Easter commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It is celebrated by the blessing and distribution of branches (willow in Bulgaria, as palm branches are not readily available), symbolizing the palm branches the crowd scattered before Christ as he entered Jerusalem.
Ascension Day (Спасовден)
Ascension Day, celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter, marks the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. Its date depends directly on Easter.
Pentecost (Петдесетница or Духовден)
This holiday occurs fifty days after Easter Sunday, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament. It’s also known as the Church’s birthday.
These holidays are integral to the Orthodox Christian liturgical calendar and share the same basis for calculation as Easter. Thus, they are movable feasts that change dates each year according to the timing of Easter. The alignment with Easter means that these holidays, like Easter itself, are celebrated on different dates than in churches that follow the Gregorian calendar for liturgical observances.
