On November 23, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks the feast of the patron saint of Bulgaria’s largest church – the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral downtown Sofia where the relics of the holy Russian Prince Alexander Nevsky are kept.
As Archimandrite Ioan Stoykov who works at the cathedral said, Saint Alexander Nevsky served as an inspiration to the Russian soldiers during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 that turned into a war of liberation for Bulgarians. The cathedral was erected as a token of gratitude to Russian Emperor Alexander II and the Russian people who fought for Bulgaria’s liberation from the five-century long Ottoman oppression. The decision for the construction of the cathedral was taken at the Constituent National Assembly held in the former capital town of Veliko Tarnovo in 1879. The funds for the construction were raised by voluntary donations from people across the country.

The first sod was turned on February 19, 1882, during the rule of Prince Alexander Batenberg. In 1904, Prominent Russian architect Alexander Pomerantzev was appointed in charge of the construction which lasted eight years. A group of 36 Bulgarian and Russian artists as well as the renowned Czech artist Ivan Markvitchka painted the murals and the icons. The iconostases, the thrones, the pulpit and the floor are designed in a Byzantine style with Old Bulgarian motifs. Materials of the highest quality have been used, such as marble, alabaster and onyx imported from Brazil.

The mosaics were designed by Professor Anton Mitov. Italian and Bulgarian stonemasons worked on the outside façade, with the ornaments being crafted by sculptor Vilem Gloss. Distinguished Bulgarian architect Yordan Milanov also took part in the construction and decoration of the cathedral. The central dome and the belfry dome were gilded. In 2003, Bulgaria’s Culture Ministry provided funds for renovation of the gilding.

The basement of the cathedral houses the crypt that has been transformed into an icon gallery to the National Arts Gallery for Old Bulgarian art. It takes the entire space of the crypt and keeps some of the finest examples of Bulgarian iconography.

“The cathedral was consecrated in 1924 on September 12 and 14”, archimandrite Ioan explains. “Russian priests and high-ranking officials were invited to take part in the inauguration ceremony and festive liturgy. Today, Bulgarians feel obliged to visit this church and to thank God for their liberty. The doors of the cathedral are always kept open.”

The crowd of worshippers and visitors to the cathedral is never ceasing and everyone is amazed at its exquisite decoration and architecture. In front of the left altar of the church, pious Christians humbly pray in front of the miraculous icon of the Theotokos. The angelic voices of the choir singers create an unforgettable feeling of mysticism and sacredness in the congregation during liturgies.

The interior of the cathedral is impressive for its size – an area of more than 3,000 sq m and during festive liturgies it can accommodate up to 5,000 persons. Since its construction until 1894 when the Saint Sava Cathedral in the Serbian capital Belgrade was completed, the Alexander Nevski Cathedral was the largest and most impressive cathedral on the Balkans. 

“I would like to greet all Bulgarians and all Orthodox Christians with the feast of Saint Alexander Nevsky to whom we pay homage on November 23”, priest Ioan Stoykov said in conclusion.

Translated by: Rossitsa Petcova
Photographs provided by: Darina Grigorova