Bulgaria Inside

The church of St. Sofia is one of the symbols of Bulgaria’s capital. It is the second oldest church in Sofia after St. George. The church is situated in the central part of the city, on Alexander Nevski square.

St. Sofia was constructed in the 4th century AD over the remains of older churches. Excavation works near the church unearthed objects typical for early Christianity. Before that, the region was the site of a Roman stadium.

During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, the church turned into a bishop’s center. It was turned into a mosque during the Ottoman reign over Bulgaria. A strong earthquake in the 19th century damaged one of the minarets. The building was not renovated and later on it was abandoned.

After the liberation, the building once again became a church. It was renovated in the 30s of the 20th century.

Today St. Sofia greets visitors. The church keeps one important relic, a lock of hair of the Bulgarian revolutionary Vassil Levski. The grave of Bulgarian writer Ivan Vazov is situated behind the church.