Paper short abstract:

The paper aims to present a comparative analysis of the modern Christian ritual years in Bulgaria and Russia, to trace and explain the differences in otherwise similar systems. The distinctions in form and content appear to be caused by church and state policy, history, geography, local cults, etc.

Paper long abstract:

The paper aims to present a comparative analysis of contemporary Christian ritual years in Bulgaria and Russia, to trace and explain the differences in otherwise similar systems. The distinctions are documented in the form and the content of the feasts and appear to be caused by church and state policy, as well as history, geography and culture, folk religious traditions and local cults. Detailed case studies based on field research will illustrate the differences and the grounds for them.

The two church calendars are based on Gregorian (in Bulgaria, with several exceptions) and Julian (in Russia) systems respectively, therefore the timing of the feasts does not always coincide. The lists of church festivals selected as the national red-lettered holidays also differ: in Bulgaria, St George, May the 6th and Sts Cyril and Methodius, May, 24th are state holidays, while in Russia they are not.

The way some Christian feasts (Palm Sunday, Whitsun, Assumption Day, etc.) are celebrated depends on geographical zone and the time of germination and ripening of plants and fruit. This distinction affects the green decoration of the churches and houses, the festive service, acts of blessing and the set of the sacred objects venerated at home. Last but not least, Bulgarian Church is rather tolerant towards the folk religious tradition and allows some acts to be performed as part of the service or after it, while the Russian Orthodoxy strongly opposes these practices as "pagan survivals".