Archangels

On March 26, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of St. Archangel Gabriel.

Today we mark the great feast of the Annunciation (Blagoveshtenie), the glory of the gospel that Archangel Gabriel told the Blessed Virgin Mary - that she will give birth to the Son of God, the expected Savior of mankind.

On Saturday, Bulgarians commemorate one of the three most important All Souls (Zadushnitsa) days in Eastern Orthodox Christianity  - the day of St Michael (in Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox traditions, he is called 'Taxiarch Archangel Michael') or simply "Archangel Michael".

President Traian Basescu on Saturday sent a message to the Romanians to mark the feast of Sts Michael and Gabriel, informs the Presidential Administration in a release.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES STREAMLINE

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors on Thursday Michaelmas, the feast of St Michael the Archangel, or the feast of Michael and All Angels.

In the Christian Orthodox calendar Michaelmas falls on November 8.

The Bulgarian Police celebrate the day of Archangel Michael or Michaelmas as their professional holiday.