The canonisation of the New Martyrs of Batak and Novo Selo

On April 3, 2011 the Bulgarian Orthodox church canonises as saints the martyrs from Novo Selo and Batak, who had given their lives for the Christian faith during the April uprising. The canonization was performed in the Cathedral "St. Alexander Nevsky" by Patriarch Maxim in coservice with the bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The newly canonised saints, slaughtered in 1876 in the church of Batak and the Monastery of Novo Selo "St. Trinity" in Apriltsi are honored as the Congregation of the Batak martyrs - on May 7 and the Congregation of New Martyrs from Novo Selo - on May 9. An icon is drawn on the occasion. It is a composition, which consists of the image of the Batak church "St. Nedelya" in the center of the icon. In the churchyard are Father Neycho, Father Peter, Christian prayers and children. In the four corners of the icon four scenes are depicted. Before the canonisation of the new martyrs, in 1962 Paisii Hilendarski was announced a saint and right after that in 1964 - Sofronii Vrachanski. They were both canonised by Patriarch Kiril. (Photo: http: //bulgarian-orthodox-church.org)