Worship of thaumaturgic icons is an important aspect of orthodox religion. In the Middle Ages these icons represented significant state and religious symbols, singular palladia that protected either the whole Byzantine empire or the kingdom of Bulgaria, a town, a monastery or a family. The spiritual life of any christian orthodox is connected with such icons that are considered personal protections in healing or safeguard prayers. In the orthodox world icons are also relics. They give rise to pilgrimages and have the power of interfering with the course of natural events, when the whole society, communities or individuals are in danger. Worship rituals are as vivid today as in the Middle Ages and worship of extremely popular icons in Bulgaria still attracts numerous pilgrims. Associated cultual practices stress the continuity of orthodox cultural traditions and fill a gap in the spiritual life of Bulgarians today.