Aleksander Nevski Memorial Church, A Monumental Tribute to Freedom and Faith

Alexander Nevsky Square

A large church

4.5

Introduction

Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral located in the capital city of Sofia, Bulgaria. It serves as the primary cathedral of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and is also a popular tourist attraction in Sofia. The cathedral showcases a unique new Byzantine architectural style and covers an area of 3,170 square meters, with a capacity of 10,000 people. It is the second-largest cathedral on the Balkan Peninsula, second only to the Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade. The central golden dome reaches a height of 45 meters, and the bell tower stands at 53 meters, housing 12 bells, with the heaviest weighing 12 tons and the lightest weighing 10 kilograms. The interior of Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is beautifully decorated with precious materials such as Italian marble, Brazilian agate, and Carrara marble, with the Lord's Prayer inscribed in gold on the central dome. The construction of the cathedral began in 1882 and was completed between 1904 and 1912, with the purpose of commemorating the Russian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 for the independence of Bulgaria. The marble and other materials were manufactured in Munich, Germany, the metal parts of the doors came from Berlin, Germany, and the doors themselves were made in a factory in Vienna, Austria. The mosaics were transported by ship from Venice, Italy.