site.btaBulgarian Culture Centre in Odesa Celebrates Trifon Zarezan

Traditionally, every year the Bulgarian community in Odesa celebrates the holiday Trifon Zarezan. This year, the celebration took place at the All-Ukrainian Centre for Bulgarian Culture, where Bulgarians, along with representatives of other nationalities, gathered for the feast day, the director of the centre, Dmitriy Terzi told BTA.

Those present were greeted by Archpriest Miroslav Vdodovich, assistant to Metropolitan Agafangel of the Transfiguration Cathedral, and Archpriest Stefan Simonenko, priest at the Transfiguration Cathedral, who blessed the holiday of vine growers and winemakers and spoke about Saint Tryphon.

Among the honorary guests at the event were Anton Kisse, Member of Parliament of Ukraine and President of the Association of Bulgarians in Ukraine, Boris Spasov, Chairman of the Odesa Bulgarian Society, Petar Volkov, Chairman of the Gagauz Regional Society Birlik, and Anatoliy Fetesku, President of the All-Ukrainian Moldovan Association Luceafarul. They congratulated the guests and wished them prosperity and a rich harvest in the coming year.

As part of the festive event, a stylized ritual of pruning the vineyards was demonstrated, and Ivan Genov, a member of the Odesa Bulgarian Society, was chosen as “King of the Vineyards.”

On the occasion of Trifon Zarezan and in recognition of preserving the traditional craft of vine growers and winemakers, honorary certificates from the association were presented to Boris Spasov, Anatoliy Fetesku, Petar Volkov, and Ivan Genov.

The festive Trifon’s Day program included performances by Daria Obertun, Anatoliy Sebov, Olena Hryshchuk, the Ukrainian folk vocal ensemble Zahrava, the Greek dance ensemble Elpida, and the dance group Barvinok.