At this day in Bulgarian Orthodox Church as well as the other Orthodox Churches around the world we celebrate the Ascension of Christ
This day is celebrated 40 days after Pascha or as also called (Eastern).
On that day 40 days after his glorious resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ has ascended and sat on the right hand of God. As the gospels testify.
Here in Bulgaria it’s a widely popular superstition for that feast.
Many people belief on that date the dead who are in heaven or hell are loosed from their either bliss in heaven or torture in hell and they can freely come very close to those who are living.
Of course all this is just mythology and doesn’t have to do nothing with the true Orthodox Christian Church belief. This superstition has left as a false belief which entered the people’s belief as a consequence from the Bogomils heresy teachings.
It’s a well known fact that at a certain period in time Bogomils sect who were characterized with rejection of all earthly things (human body, nature, food etc.) as corrupt and unggodly.
Though the general heretical teachings has been devastated and the truth by God himself with time, some of their false beliefs kept growing among the unacquainted population until this day.
On this day in Bulgaria we also have the tradition to colour chichen eggs in red just like on Eastern.
The reasons for the eggs colouring aren’t completely certain though I’ve heard from a friend this is being done as a symbol that the 40 days until the ascension has passed and it’s the end of the great days of the Lord who has been on earth in flesh 40 days after his resurrection, just like on Eastern we colour the eggs as a symbol for the resurrection.
On this day there is a tradition in Bulgaria that most people go and visit the graves of their departured beloved ones to show honour for their earthly living and remember about their live, though again this is not really a teaching of the Church but rather a human addition to what the Orthodox Church teaches.
The day of the Holy Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ is also called All Soul’s day since all soulds are to be resurrected and be judged by God in the last day as God tought us through the teachings in the Holy Bible and his Orthodox Church.
There is a practice among some people in the Church to great themselves with “Christ has Ascended!” instead of “Hello” and on the other side the man has to answer to the greating “Truly he has Ascended!”.
It’s a really interesting recurring miracle in a near place to Obrochishte called “The Ascension of the Lord” their is a spring there that springs out water each year only on for the feast “The Ascension of the Lord” in the rest time of the year the spring is dry.
That’s a real miracle that testifies for the ascension of Christ people know that miracle recurring for many, many years.
