The Passion Week

In Orthodox church, the last week of the life of Christ (the week before Easter), is called the “Passion Week” or the Week of Sufferings. In Bulgarian traditional beliefs, this period is related to many interdicts and restrictions for the people. Evangelists have written that on Holy Monday, Jesus entered the Jerusalem temple and found it full of traders. He grew angry, overturned their tables and chased them away, saying the temple was a home for prayers, not a stock market. Holy Tuesday is a day of instructions and last moral directions: Jesus have the people an example how to show mercy. According to the local traditions, the first three days of the Passion Week – Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, are days for cleaning, washing and bathing. This ritual has a very specific purifying nature – all this is done for health. On Holy Tuesday, young girls go for “silenced water” – fresh water, brought from three springs. On their way back from the springs, while carrying the water, girls should keep silent. Thus, the water is purified. People believe that the “silenced water” has healing power.