The Council of Ministers has declared 11 November 2026 a day of national mourning for the victims of the pile-ups on the Trakia motorway near the Zimnitsa interchange in Yambol region. The two multi-vehicle crashes happened on the morning of 10 November in thick fog and involved 86 vehicles in all. Reports on the number of dead differ, but official health ministry figures say 11 people died and about 50 were injured. Flags on state institutions are flying at half-mast.
According to folk belief, St Minas' Day marks the start of the so-called "wolf days". People used to finish repairs and mend fences to keep out wolves and evil spirits. The Church regards St Minas as the patron of the family.
Today, Wednesday 11 November, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honours the Holy Great Martyr Minas and the Holy Martyrs Victor and Vincent. It also remembers the Holy Martyr Stephanida and Venerable Theodore the Studite. Name days are celebrated by people called Mina and Viktor, and by those with related names such as Minka and Viktoria.
The soldier from Egypt
Minas was a soldier known for his courage, and a miracle healer, Bulgarian National Radio says. He was born in Egypt and served in the Roman army. He was killed for his faith in Phrygia under Emperor Diocletian, who ruled the Roman Empire from 284 to 305.
The Church regards him as the protector of the family, orphans and the homeless. Travellers, soldiers and folk healers are also under his protection. Believers also pray to him for an everyday reason: when they have lost something and cannot find it.
Protector of women and children
According to folk belief, the saint also protects women. On this day mothers stand before his icon and pray for their children's health.
A holiday for security guards too
11 November is also the professional day of security guards and the private security industry. Council of Ministers Decision No. 50 of 4 February 2010 set it, and it is tied to St Minas' Day.
The monastery of St Great Martyr Minas near Sofia, the only one in Bulgaria with this name, marks its patron saint's day today. After the liturgy, priests hold a festive blessing of water in the courtyard. The church of St Minas in the village of Starchevo, near Petrich, also marks its patron saint's day. According to BTA, it was built in 1848 and is the oldest church with this name in Blagoevgrad region.
Angel Kanchev was born on 11 November 1850. On the same date in 1875, meetings of the revolutionary committee began in Giurgiu, chaired by Stefan Stambolov. They went on until 25 December, when the plan for an uprising on 1 May 1876 was ready. On 11 November 1913, the sugar factory in Ruse, then the biggest in Bulgaria, opened. On 11 November 1918, the Armistice of Compiègne was signed, ending the First World War. The day is marked as Armistice Day in France, Remembrance Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US. On 11 November 1944, the Bulgarian People's Army freed Kumanovo. On 11 November 1952 (overnight into 12 November), bishop Eugenius Bossilkov and the priests Kamen Vichev, Pavel Dzhidzhov and Josaphat Shishkov were executed in Sofia in the so-called "Catholic trial". Today Poland marks its independence from 1918, and Angola its independence from 1975.