The Orthodox Church celebrates today the Holy Hieromartyr Basil and the martyr Drosida of Rome (Rositsa). On this day, Leia has a name day. The name has Latin origin and means “lioness“. On March 22, Liya, Rosen, Rositsa, Prolet, Proletka also celebrate, writes trafficnews.bg.
The holiday of Veliko Tarnovo is also celebrated today. The city's holiday is associated with the victory of Tsar Ivan Asen II over the Epirus despot Theodore Komnenos in the Battle of Klokotnitsa on March 22 (March 9 AD) 1230, as well as with the day of St. Forty Martyrs.
The first information about the celebration of March 22 as a holiday of Veliko Tarnovo can be found as early as 1879. At that time, a holiday of the Tarnovo citizenship was held in the church "St. Forty Martyrs", which took place on March 9 (18th century). The liturgy was attended by the imperial commissioner Prince Dondukov-Korsakov, the army, high-ranking officials and clergy, representatives of the Constituent Assembly held in the city at that time, and many citizens. For the first time after five centuries of slavery, not only the people of Tarnovo, but also the entire national representation, paid tribute to the past. From then until 1944, the day of the Holy Forty Martyrs was annually celebrated as the day of Tarnovo and the holiday of the Tarnovo garrison.
After September 9, 1944, the holiday was not celebrated. The vigilant residents of the “Assenov” neighborhood have a certain amount of credit for its restoration, who in 1970 celebrated it in the “St. Forty Martyrs” church under the title “My Favorite Neighborhood”. In 1984, their idea was supported by the Veliko Tarnovo public, which to this day celebrates the holiday of their glorious city on March 22 with a multi-day program.