Feast Day of St. Triphon the Martyr (Trifon Zarezan)

On February 1, the Bulgarian orthodox church celebrates the day of St. Triphon the Martyr, one of the most glorified saints-healers, who lived in III century. During the persecution against Christians, in the time of the ruling of the Roman Emperor Trayan Decius (249-251), Triphon was arrested, tortured and beheaded. In Bulgaria, St. Triphon is honored as a patron of all vine-growers, tavern-keepers and gardeners. His feast is also called Zarezan (in Bulgarian the root of the word means “trim”), because it is celebrated in the beginning of spring, when vines are trimmed. The feast is also related to an ancient ritual, inherited from the Thracians. On this day, vine-growers put on their Sunday clothes, trim the vines and sprinkle them with wine, hoping for rich crops. After that, everyone gathers around the festive table.