ILINDEN TRANSLATED BY ANN WOOD
It's Ilinden! Beliefs, traditions and customs for the holidayToday is a great holiday, associated with many beliefs and customs.
On July 20, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy prophet Elijah. He is revered by all Christians as the greatest biblical prophet and, together with Moses, as one of the two greatest Old Testament men.
The Christian church has called him since ancient times "Prophet and forerunner of the great deeds of God", "Angel in the flesh" and "Forerunner of the Second Coming of Christ".
Elijah was born in the city of Thesbia. His name means "fortress of the Lord".
A zealous follower of God and a fierce denouncer of idolatry, the prophet Elijah lived during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.
The kings of Israel worshiped idols and lived wickedly. Of all the most unworthy were Ahab and his wife. Elijah went to the wicked king and predicted a drought that would last three years and six months because of his sins. Then Elijah gathered the people, the priests, and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He prayed to the true God, and fire fell from heaven and lit the altar. The prophet's life tells how, at his death, a fiery chariot with fiery horses carried him away in a whirlwind to heaven.
Beliefs and customs about the holiday
In the Bulgarian folk calendar, Ilinden is the most beloved summer holiday during harvest and threshing. It is also called Thunderer, Thunderbreaker, Thunderer. In folk beliefs, St. Elijah rides through the sky in a golden chariot and seeks to kill the llama that grazes the grain. He throws fiery arrows at it, which results in thunder and lightning. When there is lightning without thunder, it is fire that comes out of the nostrils of the horses harnessed to his chariot. On this day, adults tell tales and sing songs about the Holy Prophet Elijah, who rides a fiery chariot with six horses across the sky and asks God for health and well-being, good weather and fertility.
On Ilinden, sacrifices are made for health, and large village gatherings and celebrations are also organized.
There is a belief that on this day the sea takes the most victims as a sacrifice for St. Elijah.
Folk tradition dictates that on this day one should not work, so as not to anger St. Elijah, who is revered as the lord of the summer celestial elements, thunder and hail. According to folk belief, if a person works on Ilinden, he may be struck by thunder.
If it thunders on Ilinden, the fruit trees will be damaged, the walnuts and hazelnuts will be empty. There will be a drought. Only the wine will be good.
Name day is celebrated
Name day is celebrated by all those named Iliya, Iliana Iliko, Ilika, Ilin, Ilina, Ilinko, Ilinka, Bozhko, Bozhana, Bozhinko, Bozhinka, etc.
Ilinden is a holiday of tanners, furriers, bakers, saddlers and tilers.
Short story by Ann Wood
Written on 2026-07-20 at 21:49
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