Mary, mother of Jesus

On November 21, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, a day honored in Bulgaria as the Day of the Christian Family and Christian Youth. This celebration is among the 12 major Christian holidays observed by both the Orthodox and Catholic churches.

He stood silently for a moment, leaning on his metal crutches before the icon of the Virgin Mary. Then, with reverence, he placed his crutches down, as a soldier would lay down his weapon, and lay face down to pray. He did not kneel, as is customary among the faithful, because he was missing one leg - he had been severely injured in a trench somewhere in eastern Ukraine.

A video of a 17-year-old Afghan migrant removing clothes from a statue of the Virgin Mary in central Switzerland has been making the rounds on the internet in recent hours.

The 17-year-old is then seen removing the crown from the same statue in the Einsiedeln monastery church, putting it on his head and walking away without being disturbed.

Watch the video

A large number of people arrived this year, as they do every year on December, in Tino for the festivities.

The church of Panagia of Tinos is decorated with flags and offerings, while kneeling believers walk up the avenue of the Virgin Mary fulfilling the vows they have made, Mega reports.

//

Kyriakos Mitsotakis gave the assurance in his statement from Chania, where he is for the Feast of the Dormition, that “the state will act swiftly” to compensate the “fortunately few” people affected by the fire in Attica.

In Bulgaria, the Orthodox Church honors the Assumption of the Holy Virgin with solemn services. The holiday, also known as the Great Mother of God (Golyama Bogoroditsa), is among the most revered in the country. It commemorates the peaceful passing of the Mother of God, who, according to tradition, did not experience a typical death but rather a blissful sleep that opened the doors to heaven.

Across the world today, the faithful gather in reverence to celebrate both Hellenism and Christianity. We commemorate the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, who has peacefully fallen asleep and ascended to heaven.

For Orthodox Christians, the Virgin's Lent begins, preceding the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15. This period of fasting was established in honor of the Mother of God, whose life, according to Church tradition, was dedicated to fasting and prayer, especially towards the end of her earthly days as she prepared for her ascension.

Today marks the celebration of the Annunciation, a significant spring holiday known as Blagovets. This occasion is observed annually on March 25th and holds a special place in the Easter holiday cycle.

In the Orthodox Church, December 26 marks a significant celebration dedicated to the Holy Mother of God and Saint Joseph, commemorating their roles in the life of Jesus Christ.