travel
Saint of sweetness

A portrait of Saint Haralampi or Haralambos

Saint Haralampi or Haralambos is the Orthodox patron saint of apiarists or bee-keepers. The day of Saint Haralampi is marked on February 10 every year.

The annual event takes place in the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin church in the town of Blagoevgrad, some 100 km south of the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. Locals say a holy mass for "the sanctification of honey" and cover their bread with the anointed spread. The rest of the honey is kept in the house as a remedy.

Worshippers gather around candles stuck to jars with honey, during a religious mass in the church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin in the city of Blagoevgrad. Photo: Reuters/Stoyan Nenov

Honey and beehives are sanctified that day by performing a ritual. On Saint Haralambos's Day, sick or blind people go to church and pray for healing. Worshippers gather around candles, stuck to jars with honey, during a religious mass.

According to traditional concepts Saint Haralambos is the lord of all illnesses, especially the plague.

Doing any housework is strictly forbidden that day, because of the fear of any coming illness. Women are only allowed to bake round bread and decorate it with a cross.

According to the belief, Saint Haralambos blesses the land and it gets warmer and ready to be cultivated.

Saint Haralambos died as a martyr in 198 AD in the town of Magnesia (in Thessaly) where he was a bishop. He was tortured to death.

HOME