🧅 St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia
Bulgaria
About This Sacred Site
The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the patriarchal cathedral of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. Built between 1882 and 1912, it was dedicated to the Russian soldier-saints and the 200,000 Russian troops who died liberating Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The cathedral's gold-plated dome rises 45 meters high, and its interior can hold 10,000 worshippers. The crypt houses an impressive collection of Bulgarian icons spanning from the 9th to the 19th century.
Key Facts
- •One of the largest Eastern Orthodox churches in the world, with capacity for 10,000
- •The gold-plated dome is 45 meters high and a defining feature of Sofia's skyline
- •Built to honor the 200,000 Russian soldiers who died liberating Bulgaria in 1877-78
- •The crypt houses one of the finest collections of Bulgarian icons, from the 9th-19th centuries
- •The cathedral bells include the heaviest bell in the Balkans, weighing 12 tonnes
Location
Coordinates: 42.6960, 23.3329
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