Mary, mother of Jesus

The Bulgarian Orthodox Christians mark Sunday the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, a day traditionally dedicated to the Christian family and youth.

The liturgical feast is also celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church.

Believers light candles at the Byzantine Church of Aghia Triada in Nafplio, southern Greece, ahead of Wednesday's celebration of the Dormition (or the Assumption) of the Virgin Mary (in Greek: Koimisis tis Theotokou). The holiday commemorates the "falling asleep" or death of the Theotokos (Mary, translated as "God-bearer").

Bulgarian Christians celebrate Sunday one of the most important Christian holidays - Annunciation, reported FOCUS News Agency.

In Bulgaria, the day is marked by both the Bulgarian Orthodox majority and the Catholic and Protestant minorities.

Part of an Early Byzantine amphora with a fully preserved inscription in Ancient Greek dedicated to Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary has been discovered during the latest excavations of the Ancient Roman, medieval Byzantine and Bulgarian fortress of Trimammium near the Danube town of Mechka, Ruse District, in Northeast Bulgaria.

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A metal child's bracelet from the 11th-12th century with a stamp depicting the Virgin Mary - or the Holy Mother of God, as she is known in Eastern Orthodox Christianity - has been discovered by archaeologists during the excavations of the medieval Momchil's Fortress near Smolyan in Southern Bulgaria.

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Mary Synatsakis is among the most loved celebrities in Greek showbiz. Her friendly and polite demeanour, along with a nearly constant smile on her face makes her extremely likeable to the people around her. However, the TV hostess was not always the glamorous persona we see today.

Following revelations brought to light by Proto Thema based on official Education Ministry employee complaints that the director of the National Organisation for Certification of Skills & Career Guidance (EOPPEP), Eleni Giannakopoulou had allegedly thrown an icon of the Virgin Mary into the rubbish bin and attempted to strip an employee of a cross from her neck on the eve of the celebration

“The Greeks honour today the great feast of the Dormition of Virgin Mary, that always protects the Greek people’s struggles and hopes for the nation’s prosperity and freedom” stated President of Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos on Tuesday from the city of Thebes where he attends the celebrations for the Dormition of Virgin Mary.

The Dormition of Virgin Mary on August 15, the so-called Easter of summer, is a day-hymn to Virgin Mary, the mother of all Christians.

The greatest pilgrimage is held at the on the island of Tinos, at the major Marian shrine in Greece, the church of Evangelistria.

The head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos, said the Greek were and would remain Orthodox in their faith, during his message on occasion of celebrations for the Assumption of Virgin Mary on August 15.