Every year on 14 September the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks the 'Day of the Holy Cross' (Krastovden, Cross Day) with a liturgy in Cross Forest, located in the Middle Rhodopes, Southern Bulgaria. On the eve of the holiday thousands of people gather together on top to charge themselves with good health and energy under the starry sky. The way back from Cross Forest, tourists and pilgrims visit Bachkovo Monastery, one of the largest and oldest Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Europe, to catch a glimpse of the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. In folk beliefs 'Cross Day' (Krastovden) is associated with the beginning of autumn, time for sowing of winter crops, the time for harvesting and preparing the baskets for gathering of grapes.
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