St. George's day in Pomorie Monastery
I'm in
pomorie
monastery right now. Pityle
pomorie's monastery's website
can only be accessed in Russian and Bulgarian language.
Pomorie Monastery is named after the greatly honoured saint George,
he is highy honoured here in Bulgaria as well as in many countries
in the orthodox christian world, he is also venerated in some other
non-orthodox countries one of which for instance is England.
Some of the monks here in the monastery used to say it's St. George
himself who invited me to the monastery for a blessing since I
myself am named after the saint.
Many people from Pomorie and near Burgas's region and even from
afar are gathered to commemorate
St.
George's Martyrdom and celebrate the
Saint George's
day . It's the second time I'm in Pomorie's monastery which by
the way is a Male monastery. I'm really happy that such a cloisters
still exists in this troubles times in sense of spirituality.
The place is really peaceful and the fact that it's georgraphically
located near the sea makes it a must see destination if you're
visiting Bulgaria or travelling through the country.
The history of the monastery is also very interesting. Currently
the brotherhood includes 6 monks. The monastery abbot is a really
kind and gentle man and the brothers are united in comparison to
the observed dividement between monks walking the way of salvation
in spiritual abbeys nowadays.
The main reason people are coming on the feast of st. George is to
beg for the prayer intercession of the Saint for us the sinners in
front of God, that God has mercy and forgies our trespasses and
have mercy on us.
Each eart Saint George takes place here in Bulgaria on Sixth of May
(06.05) and is one of the greatest christian as well as secular
celebrations in Bulgaria. The 6th of Many is also an official
holidays within the country and the official feast of the bulgarian
army.
St. George is considered one of the greatest Christian saints in
the Orthodox, world and even more venerated in Bulgaria.
It's a common practice in Bulgaria as well as in Greece that
spiritual abbeys or Churches are named after St. George.
What makes St. George even more special for us the fact that the
Bulgarian Orthodox Church possesses a whole monastery named after
st. George located in Mounth Athos. You can read more about
St. George
(Zograf) Bulgarian Monastery located in Mount Athos here
St. George's monastery in Mount Athos is named
Zograf after
a miraculous icon located in the Monastery which dates back to the
14th century.
Saint George Zograf Miraculous icon owned by Zograf's Monastery -
Holy Mount Athos
The Holy Lord has completed many miracles through the icon of st.
George Zograf. Many people received physical or spiritual healing,
whilst others has received according to their prayers when they
approached the icon as great relic to honour God. An interesting
fact is that Pomorie Monastery also possesses a great relic a
miraculous icon of st. George
a miraculous icon of St. George Pomorie
In the center of Pomorie Monastery is located a Holy Fountain
St. George. The wholy history of the monastery is related to
the Holy Fountain.
According to bulgarian orthodox church tradition the Monastery was
established by a Turkish bey in the 13th or 14th century. In that
time the bay got an incurable sickness. He tried everything a man
could try to get a relief or a cure. He went to a physician, he
tried herbs, he tried going and praying to Allah in the mosque an
imam praied over him to beg for Allah's blessing and healing etc
...
But nothing helped. One night the bey had a dream that a holy
fountain is springing out of his house yard.
When he awoke from his sleep he went and digged on the same place
where the holy spring has emerged. And oh miracle ! A spring
emerged. He drinked from the water and got healed from his
illness.
In the pit where he digged he found an image of St. George which is
currently embedded in one of the walls of the tower of the holy
spring in Pomorie's monastery.
Afterwards the bey according to God's revelation to establish
Pomorie's Monastery while all his family members accepted monastic
life.
The bey has give away all hid possesseions (land, money) etc. to
the monastery just established.
In the years since then the monastery has been destroyed once and
rebuilt, many people has received a relief or healing while
drinking from the Holy Fountain.
This year God has blessed the monstery even more abundantly. The
abbot and one of the monks has temporary taken some Saint remains
and brough them for pilgrimage in the monastery.
The saint remains are of
St. John Chrysostom ,
St.
Gregory the Theologian ,
st. Gregory
Palamas
Some of the other relics which are available for pilgrimage in
Pomorie monastery until 10th of May are st. remains of Glinsk elder
hermits as well as
St. martyr
Dasius who was tortured and slained here in Bulgaria for his
faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.