Traditional Easter Procession Held at Bulgaria's Bachkovo

Hundreds of believers flocked to Bulgaria's Bachkovo Monastery in the Rhodope Mountains to take part in the traditional church procession on the second day of Easter.

This year the procession was led by a replica of the famous miracle-working icon of the Holy Mother of God from Bachkovo, since the original is currently under restoration.

Orthodox Christian believers took part in the prayer and hymn chants, before starting on the march outside of the monastery.

The procession is headed to the nearby area where tradition has it that the icon has been found. In the evening believers return to the monastery.

The week following Easter is called Thomas's Week in Bulgaria, by the name of Apostle Thomas.

After Jesus Christ's resurrection, only Thomas did not believe his coming back to life, until Jesus appeared to him in person on the eighth day after Easter.