Veliko Tarnovo to Mark St Demetrius Day and 841 Years Since Peter and Asen Uprising

Veliko Tarnovo will celebrate St Demetrius Day on October 26, marking 841 years since the uprising led by brothers Peter and Asen in 1185, which gave rise to the Second Bulgarian Empire. Events will centre on the historic Church of St Demetrius in the Asenov neighbourhood, according to the regional news website RegNews.

The programme begins at 8:45 a.m. with a procession carrying the icon of St Demetrius from the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God to St Demetrius Church. A festive liturgy is scheduled for 9 a.m., followed by celebrations in the church courtyard at 10:30 a.m. Students will present an account of the medieval history, alongside speeches, prayers and performances by the Iskra folk ensemble. A traditional blessed meal will also be prepared and distributed for Builders Day.

At 7 p.m. on October 26, the municipality will present a free screening of the Tsarevgrad Tarnov – Sound and Light audiovisual show, visible from Tsar Asen I Square. Admission to St Demetrius Church will be free throughout the holiday.

Leading up to St Demetrius Day, the museum church is also hosting screenings of The Boldness of the Tsars, an immersive indoor 3D mapping experience about medieval Bulgarian history. These screenings are a separate attraction from the holiday events and follow the regular admission arrangements for the museum church.

Source: RegNews, St Demetrius Day programme, October 23, 2026.

Photo: Luba Ertel / Unsplash (Unsplash License). View of Tsarevets Fortress, used as an illustration, not a photograph of the celebrations.