I almost skipped it, but decided to pop into the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia and I am really glad I did…the architecture and the interior artwork were quite outstanding.
Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral In Sofia, Bulgaria – A Photo Essay
The 34,100 square foot cathedral can hold up to 5,000 people inside and is among the ten largest Eastern Orthodox church buildings in the region. Construction began in 1882 and finished in 1912. The cathedral was designed by Alexander Pomerantsev but named after Alexander Nevsky, a Russian prince. Materials for the cathedral were shipped across Europe:
The marble parts and the lighting fixtures were created in Munich, the metal elements for the gates in Berlin, while the gates themselves were manufactured in Karl Bamberg’s factory in Vienna, and the mosaics were shipped from Venice.
Walking through churches in Europe often sends chills down my spine. Think of the effort that went into building this massive edifice without the benefit of modern technology. Houses of worship around the world tell a common anthropomorphic story: humanity’s search for meaning and our attempts to understand and order the world around us.
If you’re in Sofia, do take a moment to step in. While I will refrain from taking pictures inside a house of worship during a service, I could not help but to capture the detail and the grandeur of such a building here.
Would a recommend Bulgaria as a destination to visit?
Yes. I would return.
I don’t know why, but your outfit reminded me Cliff Richard’s singing Congratulations at Eurovision 1968.
It was cold!
Beautiful pictures Matthew. That church is stunning.
The surrounding area is now really stunning thanks to some EU funding. Great piece of history is a great part of the city.