The Alexander Nevski Cathedral is a well known Bulgarian Orthodox church, located in the capital city of Bulgaria. It is constructed in a Neo-Byzantine architectural style. This cathedral is in fact meant for the Patriarch of Bulgaria apart from being the biggest eastern orthodox cathedral in the entire world. The Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Sofia was constructed in the honor of the famous Saint Alexander Nevski and Saint Boris who were the pioneers of Christianity in the country and also to Saint Methodius and Saint Cyril. Between 1916 and 1920, the present name of the church was changed to St. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral.
The Alexander Nevski Cathedral of Sofia was built during the years of 1904 to 1912 and is still considered to be a masterpiece belonging
to the 20th century.
|
The brainchild behind the design was the famous architect Pomerantsev. The interior section of the cathedral is built of Brazilian onyx, Italian marble and woodcarvings. A large number of Russian and Bulgarian artists were employed in its construction. There are icons belonging to Bulgaria in its underground chamber. The icons are all basically masterpieces dating from 9th to 18th century.
Alexander Nevski Cathedral in Sofia has a central dome that has been plated with gold and copper. There are also several bells inside the cathedral. The prayer lines for Jesus have been carved on the central dome with gold letters. It is now a major tourist attraction, which is visited by innumerable tourists throughout the year. There is a market surrounding the cathedral where the tourists can buy handmade items like garments and antique pieces.
|
