The birth of the Virgin Mary
The Nativity of the Mother of God is celebrated every year on 8 September. On this day, the Church commemorates the birth of the Virgin Mary. It is the first major feast after the church New Year on 1 September, marking the beginning of the annual cycle of celebrations.
According to church tradition, Mary’s parents, the righteous Joachim and Anna, had long been childless and prayed for a child. God heard their prayers, and Mary was born to them in their old age. She would later become the mother of Christ.
Malka Bogoroditsa in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, the feast is commonly called Malka Bogoroditsa, meaning “Little Mother of God”. The main church of Rila Monastery is dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God, and many pilgrims gather there on 8 September.
The feast is associated with motherhood. Women who hope to have children go to church to pray for a blessing. In the folk calendar, the day is also linked to the end of summer and preparations for autumn sowing. Many villages hold gatherings, while monasteries dedicated to the Nativity welcome pilgrims.
Public holiday status
The Nativity of the Mother of God is not a public holiday: it is a normal working day in Bulgaria.
Joachim and Anna
On the following day, 9 September, the Church honours Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Virgin Mary. They are venerated as patrons of families and of people praying for children.