Anastenaria konak “St. Kostadin ” the village of Kosti

Overview

The fire-walking ritual Anastenaria/Nestinarstvo

Anastenaria konak “St. Kostadin ”is located in the northeastern part of the village of Kosti. It is located north near the church "St. St. Cyril and Methodius".

The konak in Strandzha is also called a monastery or konak - home / temple of the dancers on the hot coals. Its name originates from the Turkish word "konak", which means a house to live in, a place where one stays for a long time. The idea of ​​the konak is that this is the home of St. Constantine and in it he stays on his feast. The sacred fire drum is kept here. On the day of St. St. Constantine and Elena slaughtered a sacrificial animal in his yard to prepare the "fire sacrifice". The eastern side of the chapel plays a special role. There is a niche and there is a chapel on which the icons are placed to "rest". In the konak, the the dancers on the hot coals are usually "caught" before they play in the fire, the "icons" are "dressed". From here starts the firework procession to the place of "St. Kostadin ”.