The oldest person in the house breaks the ritual bread, known as God's bread, in the shape of a cross. In many homes, this is how the meal for Archangel's Day begins today. On 8 November the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks the Synaxis of St Michael the Archangel and all the bodiless heavenly powers. It also honours St Angel of Lerin, martyr, on this day.
Leader of the heavenly host and taker of souls
The church honours Archangel Michael as the leader of the heavenly host. In folk belief, he also has a darker task.
People call him the "soul-taker". According to the belief, he comes down to a dying person and takes the soul out with a knife or a sword. This is why the Saturday before the feast is given to the dead.
Yesterday was Archangel's Saturday of the Dead, one of the general days of remembrance in the church calendar. Churches held memorial services and requiem liturgies. People also remember those killed in the wars for Bulgaria's national liberation and unification on this day. Military ceremonies and memorial services took place at the Sofia Military Mausoleum and Ossuary and in other cities. Believers are advised to have boiled wheat, bread, wine and water blessed, and then give them out as alms for the souls of the dead.
Sacrificial meal and God's bread on the table
In many parts of Bulgaria, families slaughter an animal today as an offering for the saint. Women knead loaves and give them out, calling them God's bread. With these, they invite the angels to the table and ask for heavenly protection.
In the morning, churches hold a festive liturgy, and only after it do the name-day celebrations begin. The family gathers around the table, and villages hold fairs and shared meals. After St Demetrius' Day, this is the biggest autumn feast.
Police, the Western Outlands and Tsar Kaloyan
Archangel's Day is also Police Day. It has been marked since 1924 and was restored in 1994 at the suggestion of the National Police Trade Union.
8 November is also the Day of the Western Outlands. The 1919 Treaty of Neuilly handed the Western Outlands to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. On 6–8 November 1920, Serbian troops occupied Tsaribrod, Bosilegrad and the Strumica area. The day has been marked for decades. It was stopped in the 1950s and restored in 1990 on the initiative of the Union of Bulgarians of 1857, as the Day of Unity of Bulgarians on both sides of the western border. General Toshevo and Straldzha municipalities have a local holiday. The D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svishtov marks 90 years since the opening of the Higher School of Commerce (1936). The school opened on 8 November 1936 by decree of Tsar Boris III, and today's academy traces its origins to it.
On 8 November 1204, 822 years ago, the papal legate Cardinal Leo crowned Kaloyan king (rex) in Tarnovo, as part of the union with Rome. In 1962, Vihren National Park, today's Pirin National Park, was created in Bulgaria. Outside Bulgaria, the date is linked to Röntgen, who discovered X-rays on 8 November 1895.
Besides Michael, Angel and Archangel, name days are also celebrated by people named Rangel, Rafail, Seraphim and Seraphima, Angelina, Mihaela and Rayko. Happy name day to everyone celebrating!