Date and working-day status
Bulgarian Doctors’ Day is a professional celebration held every year on 19 October. It has been observed since 1995, following an initiative by the medical profession, and is an occasion to express gratitude to doctors and medical professionals.
It is not a public holiday or a day off: it is a normal working day in Bulgaria. In 2026, Bulgarian Doctors’ Day falls on Monday, 19 October.
Why 19 October
The date coincides with the church feast of St John of Rila the Wonderworker, Bulgaria’s most revered saint. According to tradition, he healed the sick and performed miracles both during his lifetime and after his death. This association with healing led to his selection as the patron saint of doctors.
St John of Rila lived in the ninth and tenth centuries and founded Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s largest and best-known monastery. He spent years as a hermit in the Rila Mountains, where his reputation as a healer and wonderworker drew people seeking healing.
How the day is observed
The Bulgarian Medical Association presents its annual Doctor of the Year award, while hospitals and medical universities organise celebrations. These events mark the professional holiday and provide an opportunity to thank those working in medicine.
The saint’s relics are kept at Rila Monastery, where thousands of pilgrims gather on 19 October. Bulgarian Doctors’ Day thus brings together appreciation for the medical profession and reverence for Bulgaria’s most beloved saint.