Войнската Задушница на Петровден през 895 г. и българския фолклор
A Possible Service for the Dead Warriors on St. Peter and Paul’s Day of the year 895 and the Bulgarian Folklore

Summary/Abstract: The council of 894 held in Pliska is one of the most important events not only for Bulgaria but generally for medieval Europe since it legitimized a new civilization. This civilization found its place in the world history through the activities of its ruler, Symeon who promulgated a new ideological doctrine which had its texts in native language written down with alphabet specific only for this civilization – this fact made its Christianity dangerously “ethnical”. The two wars with Magyars were one of the biggest trials to Symeon’s state. In the first war he was defeated by them and besieged in Durostorum (the present-day Silistra) where he stayed from St. George’ Day to St. John’s Day in June. After a victorious battle he came back to Pliska on St. Peter and Paul’s Day. According to Annales Fuldenses many Bulgarian warriors were killed in these battles and while the young ruler Symeon participated in a thanksgiving service in the Great Basilica “St. Peter” in Pliska, the relatives of the warriors killed or missing hold a service of the type of All Soul’s Day which was unusual for this time of the year, St. Peter and Paul’s Day. Some people new for sure that their relatives were dead, others heard only rumors, and third still had hopes that their sons, husbands, and fathers could be alive. This service for the dead was unique for the Church calendar and it was not included in the liturgical sources but probably same traces of this unusual All Souls’ Day were preserved in a Christmas song of the group of hartsoi in Russe Region: according to it a maiden lady hold a service for the soul (or wellbeing) of her missing (at war) brother.

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