Saint Stephen Honored as Serbian Army Patron and Bulgarian Ilinden Holiday

On 2 August 2026 the Serbian Orthodox Church proclaimed Saint Stephen the heavenly protector of the Serbian Army. A liturgy was celebrated at the Church of Saint Mark in Belgrade, attended by Defence Minister Bratislav Gashi and Chief of the General Staff Milan Mojsilović. The same date is observed in Bulgaria as Ilinden, the old‑style celebration of Saint Stephen’s relics and the ninth Sunday after Pentecost, featuring church services, folk rituals and prayers for health and protection.

Both observances link the saint’s legacy of faith and courage to contemporary national traditions, emphasizing his role as a spiritual patron and a symbol of cultural heritage in Serbia and Bulgaria.