St. Alexander Nevski Memorial Church. Courtesy of Bulgarian Embassy
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St. Alexander Nevski Memorial Church
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When:
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Daily
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Where:
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St. Alexander Nevski Memorial Church
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Daily 7am-6pm; services take place daily
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Sofia's beautiful St. Alexander Nevski Memorial Church was built in 1912 to honour the 200,000 Russian casualties who helped liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878. With its gold-domed roof, it is considered one of the Balkans' finest architectural pieces.
The church is named after the "Tsar Liberator" who led the army. Inside, the work of craftsmen and artists from six different countries can be seen in the icons, frescoes, murals and huge chandeliers of this dramatic five-aisle church. Much of the interior is richly decorated in the finest Eastern Orthodox traditions with Italian marble, Egyptian alabaster, Brazilian onyx, wood carvings and plenty of shimmering gold.
On the square outside the church you can visit the grave of Ivan Vazov, known by many as the "patriarch of Bulgarian literature". Vazov had asked to be buried among the common people of Sofia. A boulder from Mount Vitosha marks his grave.
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