Russian Church, Sofia

The Russian Church (Bulgarian: Руска църква, Ruska tsarkva), officially known as the Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker (църква "Св. Николай Чудотворец", tsarkva "Sv. Nikolay Chudotvorets"), is a Russian Orthodox church in central Sofia, Bulgaria, situated on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard.

History and architecture

The church was built on the site of the Saray Mosque, which was destroyed in 1882, after the liberation of Bulgaria by Russia from the Ottoman Empire. It was built as the official church of the Russian Embassy, which was located next door, and of the Russian community in Sofia, and was named, as was the tradition for diplomatic churches, for the patron saint of the Emperor who ruled Russia at the time, Nicholas II of Russia. The church was designed by the Russian architect Mikhail Preobrazhenski in the Russian Revival Style, with decoration inspired by the Muscovite Russian churches of the 17th century. The construction was supervised by the architect A. Smirnov, who was building the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia nearby. The exterior decoration of multicolored tiles was done by G. Kislichev, and the interior murals were painted by a team of artists led by Vasily Perminov, who also painted those in Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The five domes are coated with gold. The bells were donated by Emperor Nicholas II.

Construction began in 1907 and the church was consecrated in 1914. The church remained open after the Russian Revolution and during the Communist period in Bulgaria (1944–1989), though priests and church-goers were carefully watched by the State Security police.

The exterior was recently restored by the Russian Government. The interior murals unfortunately are darkened by smoke from candles and from time, and are in need of restoration.

The crypt housing the remains of Saint Archbishop Seraphim is located beneath the Russian Church's main floor. Dozens of people still visit the grave of the archbishop, who died in 1950, praying and leaving notes asking for wishes to be granted.

References

  • Official Guide to the Russian Church by N. Neshkov and N. Lobanova (in Russian and Bulgarian)
  • Historical Plaque in front of the Russian Church, placed by the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria

External links

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Sofia to see
2 January 2013
Built in 1914 | built over a mosque which was destroyed after the liberation of Bulgaria | reconstruction was made by the Russian Government - http://sofiatosee.com/2013/01/02/russian-church/
Aylin Alpustun
4 November 2019
It is so picture pretty. And the interior is also beyond words. So much detail and the colours are beautiful. Please visit and light a candle
83 oleghope
31 August 2015
One of the most beautiful sights in Sofia.
Juanxito Gómez
7 August 2018
Small but beautiful Russian orthodox church!! You can go inside for free. Sometimes, you can see some baptisms there.
Anton Kharisov
14 December 2014
Почему-то во всех русских церквях присутствуют озлобленные бабушки, отбивающие охоту туда возвращаться.
Serkan Özdemir
10 August 2013
Eskiden Saray Camii iken sonra Rus Kilisesi yapılmış ve alt katında bi Aziz mezarı var.İnsanlar dileklerini bir kağıda yazarak dilek diliyorlar:)
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bulevard "Tsar Osvoboditel" 3, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Get directions
Thu 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Fri 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sat 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
Sun 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Mon 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
Tue 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

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