Родопските костници и погребалните обичаи в Южна Тракия
The Rhodopes Ossuaries and the Funerary Rites in South Thracia

Summary/Abstract: The article is devoted to a custom, known as "second burial", which is spread mainly on thracian soil (the Rhodopes and Strandzha). After the third, fifth or the seventh year after the death of a individual, the bones are dug out the grave and are stored in special mass ossuaries, situated mainly near churches. They are called "sepulcres" and their construction resembles monastery ossuaries. They are two-storeyed: on the first floor are held surmons and commemoration rituals, and on the second there is a crypt. Here are examined also the most charactecteristic features of the custom "second burial": the bones and the scull are washed with wine, put in the linen cloth or bag, and left to pass a night in the church. As a conclusion the author connects the descent of this custom with burial tradition of peoples in Caucas and Asia Minor, among who the burial in special ossuaries is very typical.

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