SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) – Thousands of Bulgarian Orthodox Christian worshipers on Wednesday ignored warnings from health authorities to refrain from mass rallies due to the coronavirus pandemic and instead kept their centuries-old epiphany traditions.
The young people threw themselves into the icy waters of the rivers and lakes of Bulgaria to recover the crucifixes thrown by the priests in the ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.
Legend has it that the person who recovers the wooden cross will be delivered from evil spirits and will be healthy throughout the year. After the cross is fished, the priest sprinkles the faithful with water using a pile of basil.
In the small mountain town of Kalofer in central Bulgaria, dozens of men dressed in traditional white embroidered shirts entered the cold Tundzha River waving national flags and singing folk songs. Inspired by drums and bagpipes and fortified by homemade drinks, they performed a slow “mazhko horo”, or men’s dance, stepping on the rocky bed.
The mayor of Kalofer, who usually conducts the dance, did not enter the river this year to set an example that the rules of the coronavirus must be followed.
Several local police officers tried to prevent people from entering the river, threatening them with fines, but their calls were largely ignored.
Epiphany marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas, but not all Orthodox Christian churches celebrate it on the same day.
While the Greek Orthodox Christian churches, Bulgaria and Romania celebrate the holiday on January 6, The Orthodox Churches in Russia, Ukraine and Serbia follow the Julian calendar, according to which the Epiphany is celebrated on January 19, because their Christmas falls on January 7.
Some Western Christian churches celebrate the religious holiday of the Epiphany as the Day of the Three Kings, which marks the visit of the Magi, or the three sages, to the baby Jesus and closes the Christmas season.
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