N1 ST. SOFIA
St. Sofia church survived the city's history and gave his name from XIV century. The oldest relic of Sofia is the oldest active to this day Christian church in Europe. So we place it at N1. The first church was erected here in the early IV century, soon after the Congregation of Serdica that sets Christianity as an equal religion in the Roman empire (Edict of Tolerance of Emperor Galerius in 311). The church as we know it today is from the VI century works until today.
N2 CATHEDRAL ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKI
This is the symbol of Sofia! Its golden domes shine from almost every postcard. The decision to build it was taken a year after the liberation of Bulgaria and Sofia was chosen for the capital of the third Bulgarian Kingdom - in 1879 as a symbol of the independent state again, the cathedral was built next to the old church St. Sofia. Construction was completed in only eight years. It was designed from Russian architect Pomerantsev. A curious fact is the renaming of the church of "St. St. Cyril and Methodius" for four years, during the First World War, Bulgaria and Russia face off against each other and King Ferdinand decided that it is not appropriate to be named of the russian Saint Alexander Nevsky. The largest bell weighs 12 12 tons, and the total weight of all the 12 bells is 23 tons. The crypt houses the largest collection of Bulgarian icons.
N3 ROTUNDA ST. GEORGE
Located in the courtyard of the Presidency of the level of Roman Serdica. Rotunda is part of a large complex of ancient buildings of III - IV century that can be seen today. Considered to be the oldest building in the city, built at the time of Serdica was the residence of the emperors Galerius and Constantine the Great. In the church are preserved frescoes from 5 layers from IV century to XIV century, including ornaments during the period when it was converted into a mosque. The exclusive fresco from XV century is a flying angel, giving an idea of the high mastery of the Bulgarian School of Art of the Golden Age of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. Specialists consider that surpasses model of the later Boyana Church and Italian Renaissance.
N4 BOYANA CHURCH
Boyana Church "St. Panteleimon and St. Nicholas” is a medieval temple of XV century (courtier Chapel) in Boyana quarter, close to the Vitosha Mountain. It is one of the cultural symbols of Bulgaria and is included in 1979 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most valuable paintings that make it a world monument harbinger of Italian Renaissance paintings are from 1259 from the so-called Boyana master. His signature was discovered during recent restoration work - signed with the name Basil in mortar under a layer of frescoes.
Address: Boyana district, 3 "Boyansko Ezero" street
Access: Bus № 64, bus stop "Boyansko hanche", Sborishte Square
N5 ST. NEDELYA
"St. Nedelya" is a cathedral of the Sofia bishopric. In the end of XIX century temple is also called "Holy King", as it kept the relics of Serbian King Stefan Urosh II. The first church was built in X century with stone foundations and wooden structure. In the middle of the XIX century they builded a new cathedral with three domes and bell tower. At the end of the XIX century in relation to large-scale urban change in the city center has made spectacular new reconstruction work of the famous bulgarian architect Nikola Lazarov. On 16 April 1925 the church was destroyed during the communist attack. 193 people were killed and 500 were wounded. "St. Nedelya" in its present form is the work of architects Ivan Vasilyov and Dimitar Tzolov, consecrated in 1933.
N6 ST. SEDMOCHISLENITSI
Sofia kept three buildings of mosques from times the city was part of the Ottoman Empire. One of them is today's Muslim shrine (Banya Bashi), the other is an archaeological museum, and the third one - the church "St. Sedmochislenitsi". Built in 1528 of the greatest Ottoman architect Sinan by orders of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. They call it the Black Mosque because of the dark granite minaret. During excavations in 1901 found the remains of a Christian church from V century and the ancient sanctuary of Asclepius. The structure of the old mosque was magnificently converted into a church by the architects Yordan Milanov and Petko Momchilov (1901-1903). Is devoted to the Seven Saints - Cyril and Methodius and their disciples Clement, Naum, Gorazd, Sava and Angelariy.
N7 ST. PARASKEVA
It is the third largest church in the capital. Built in 1930, designed by architect Anton Torniov. The decision to build was taken in 1909. But Bulgaria's participation in World War I shifted the plans in time. The building inside is open-planed without columns in the interior, which is fundamental for its wonderful acoustics.
N8 ST. PETKA SADDLERS
The building itself is constructed in the X century over roman crypt from IV century. The oldest paintings are XIV century, followed by those from XV and XVІ century painted by Pimen Zografski, later beatified. The church today is part of an ancient and medieval archeological complex Serdica-Sredets close to Metrostation Serdica.
N9 ST. CYRIL AND ST. METHODIUS
The building was completed in 1909. The temple is a magnificent monument of the religion architecture. Rare is its original architecture in the spirit of early Italian Baroque. With three high domes and ornate, it is the jewel of the Women's Market, close to the Lions Bridge. There are beautiful wood-carved altar, royal throne and pulpit.
N10 RUSSIAN CHURCH
"St. Nikolai" is better known as the Russian Church. Built at the end of the XIX century, it was consecrated in 1914 for the needs of Russian immigrants in Sofia. The domes of the church are gilded. The bells were donated by Russian Tsar Nikolai II. In the crypt of the church is the tomb of Archbishop Seraphim Sobolev, considered by many Orthodox christians as a miracle worker. It is a tradition people to write their wishes and leave them behind the crypt hoping they will happen.
Other major temples in multicultural Sofia:
Synagogue
Central Synagogue in Sofia is the pride of the Jews in Bulgaria. It is the largest Sephardic (Spanish-Jewish) synagogue in Europe. It was built during the period of 1903-1909, designed by one of the greatest architects in Bulgaria at that time - Friedrich Gruenanger (born in Transylvania). A true work of art is diatonic chandelier (largest in Bulgaria) that adorned the temple. There is a museum of the Jews in Bulgaria. Entrance fee to the synagogue 2lv.
Banya Bashi Mosque
Built between 1566-1567 of the greatest Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, author of one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in Istanbul - Süleymaniye. Construction was initiated and funded by Kada Seyfullah Effendi. Built of brick and stone with typical ottoman architectural details at this time.
Catholic Cathedral "St Joseph"
The largest Catholic church in Bulgaria is a co-cathedral of Sofia-Plovdiv diocese with the Cathedral "Sv. Ludvig" in Plovdiv. Built in the late XIX century church "St. Joseph" was completely destroyed by bombing in Sofia in 1944. Survived only a small concert hall, which held services until 2006 when the new building was completed. The foundation stone was laid for it in 2002 during the visit of Pope John Paul II in Sofia. In front of the cathedral stands the statue of Pope John XXIII, Pope's nuncio Angelo Roncalli, who has lived in Sofia for years before his election as head of the Vatican.
© trip
photos/ trip
text/ Ivaylo Zahariev
graphic design/ Velizar Galabinov
all rights reserved
november 2012
