The Orthodox Church celebrates today the Assumption of St. Cyril Slavic-Bulgarian, St. Trifon Zarezan is celebrated in the old style, and lovers exchange gifts for St. Valentine.
For a name day, Valentina, Valentin and Valio also set the table for guests today, writes offnews.bg.
Constantine Philosopher, called Cyril, came from the family of the noble Thessaloniki Slavs - Leo and Maria. He studied at the Magnaur School in Constantinople. He completed his education with the nickname "philosopher" and was appointed patriarchal librarian and teacher of philosophy. Constantine secretly fled to the monastery of Mount Olympus in Asia Minor to his brother Methodius, where they created the Slavic alphabet and translated the holy books of the Orthodox Church into the language of the Thessaloniki Bulgarians. Cyril died in Rome on February 14, 869 and was buried in the church of "St. Clement of Rome".
Tryphon Zarezan is dedicated to the care and love of Bulgarians for the vine, grapes and wine. For the first time, this holiday began to be officially celebrated in our country in 1962 on the day of the Holy Martyr Tryphon. Then, by a decree of the Council of Ministers, it was declared a professional holiday of the winegrower. With the introduction in 1968 on the Gregorian calendar of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the church holiday of Saint Tryphon Zarezan begins to be celebrated on February 1, and the Day of the Vintner - on February 14.
It is believed that Saint Valentine was born in Italy and was a Christian bishop. He lived during the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Claudius II. When the emperor forbade his soldiers to marry with the idea that having no family, they would be more self-sacrificing in battle, Christian soldiers were secretly married by Bishop Valentine. Because of this, he was later declared the patron saint of lovers. He was beheaded in 270. for his unwavering faith in God, and very soon after he was canonized.
The holiday of February 14, dedicated to Saint Valentine, began to be celebrated in the 14th century.
Until then, he was revered as the patron saint of young people, travelers, beekeepers, and epilepsy sufferers. As the patron saint of those suffering from this disease, as well as the mentally ill, he is still revered today.
Not much is known about his life, and much of what is known is confused. There are several saints with the name Valentine. The Roman list of martyrs from 1584 mentions three - one was the bishop of the city of Interamn, the other - a priest in Rome, and the third - abbot and bishop of Rhaetia. In addition, due to the remoteness of time, his image was decorated with myths and legends.
Some Orthodox and Catholic reference books indicate the Roman presbyter and the Interamnian bishop as the same person, specifying that the Terni bishop Valentine was martyred in Rome on February 14. Other authoritative sources, such as the ”Full Months of the East” of Archbishop Sergius, believe that there is not enough reason to consider them identical, but without categorically rejecting such a possibility.