St. Sofia Russian Church

St. Sofia Russian Church

The official name of the Russian Church is the Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker. It is a Russian Orthodox church located in the city center of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. As a local religious center, it is now also a well-known attraction.

The Russian Church was built on the site of the Saray Mosque, which was destroyed after Bulgaria’s liberation in 1882. It serves as the official church of the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria and was named after the then-Russian Tsar, Nicholas II. Construction began in 1907 and was completed in 1914. The church was designed by Russian architect Mikhail Preobrazhenski, with decorations inspired by 17th-century Russian church ornamentation. The construction was supervised to completion by A. Smirnov, who oversaw the Alexander Nevsky Church. The five domes atop the church are covered in pure gold, the church bells were donated by Nicholas II, the exterior is adorned with colorful tiles, and the interior frescoes were created by a team of artists. The basement of the Russian Church houses the relics of Saint Metropolitan Seraphim. Many visitors come to see the tomb of the late Metropolitan, who died in 1950, and pray devoutly for their wishes to come true.

Russian Church, Sofia

Must-visit reason: Sofia’s most renowned Russian-style church

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Bulgaria[Bulgaria]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Sofia Province [Sofia Province]

City where the attraction is located: Sofia [Sofia]