Sofia Day
17 September 2026 — Faith, Hope, Love – three stars over Vitosha! Happy Sofia Day (Sts Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia)!
On 17 September the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honours the holy martyrs Faith, Hope and Love and their mother Sophia. The name Sophia comes from the Greek word for wisdom. According to tradition, the three sisters were martyred for their faith in Rome in the 2nd century, under Emperor Hadrian, and their mother died of grief at their grave. Historical evidence is scarce and the account comes from church tradition. Bulgaria's capital takes its name from the church of St Sophia, and the city celebrates its day on this date. It is also a name day for everyone called Sofia, Vyara, Nadezhda or Lyubov. The holiday is warm and family-centred: people exchange greetings and flowers, and the city hosts concerts and open-air events. Mount Vitosha rises above Sofia and forms the backdrop of the celebration. The feast is fixed and does not depend on the phases of the Moon. It falls a few days before the autumn equinox, and September nights are often good for stargazing.
Flying across the sky: Three ethereal bluish-silver star figures made of luminous dots and fine lines, like small constellations, glide in a gentle circle across the night sky
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