St. John The Baptist Feast

On January 7, the Bulgarian orthodox church celebrates the day of St. John the Baptist – the last prophet of the Old Testament and Baptist of Jesus Christ. The feast is also called “Ivanovden”. John the Baptist is also called “The Precursor”, for he was walking before Jesus and prepared the people for his birth. His sermon calling for repentance and baptism, for cleaning of all sins as a preparation for the coming of Jesus gives him a special place among all Evangelists. He was fighting for high morality and justice, and was sentenced by the ruler Irod Antipa. Later on, he was beheaded following the ruler’s order. In Bulgarian national tradition, Ivanovden is connected with the purifying power of the water, sanctified the previous day. The period of the so- called “dirty days” is over and everyone turns their sights forward waiting for the prophecies for good health, rich harvest and happy life to come true. On this day, everyone called Joan, Joanna, Ivan, Ivana, John, Ivaylo, Jean, Jeaneta, Yovko, Yovcho, Johan, celebrate their name day.