Sophia Church (Sofia)

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Exterior facade of the basilica .
Central nave of the church
Church floor plan

The Church of Sweta Sofija ( Bulgarian Света София , German Sophia Church ) of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the Bulgarian capital Sofia is one of the oldest church buildings in Europe and the second oldest church in the city. It was built in the first half of the fourth century, when Sofia was still a Roman city and known as Serdica .

history

The first early Christian construction of the Sophienkirche took place after the edicts of 311 and 313 . It stood not far from the city's Roman amphitheater and inside a necropolis. The church was rebuilt several times and badly damaged twice during the invasion of the Goths and the Huns in the 6th century. The current building dates from the time of the Roman emperor Justinian I (* 482; † 565) and was built according to his orders.

The Council of Serdica , which was attended by 170 bishops from Europe, Asia Minor and Africa, took place in a previous building of the current building in 342 . In the 14th century it gave its name to today's Bulgarian capital, which was then still called Sredez . Like Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the church is consecrated to “holy wisdom”.

architecture

The Sophienkirche is a valuable work of art in early Christian architecture in Southeast Europe . It is a cruciform basilica with a narthex , two eastern towers, a tower dome and three altars. It has three naves and a three-walled apse . Floor mosaics with complex early Christian plant and animal motifs are still preserved and exhibited. The church was restored in 2013 and is now open again for services and visitors.

literature

  • Bogdan Filow : Софийската църква "Света София". Sofia 1913.
  • Galina Fingarova: The building history of the Sophienkirche in Sofia , Reichert, Wiesbaden 2011, ISBN 978-3-89500-784-2
  • Dinova-Russeva, Bakalov, Mladenova: The Early Christian Church of St. Sofia - God`s Wisdom. Sofia 2009
  • Asen Tschiligirow: Софийската "Света София" и нейните мозайки. София, Алфаграф, 2011.
  • Christo Gantschew: Проучвания и проект за фасадна реставрация на църквата ‚Св.София '/ 1980–1981 г. / , Сб. Проучвания и консервация на паметниците на културата в България , том III, стр. 132-140, НИПК и ЦПИП-КК, София 1984.
  • Света София . In: Българска енциклопедия А-Я ( Bulgarian ). БАН, Труд, Сирма, 2002, ISBN 954-8104-08-3 , OCLC 163361648 .

Web links

Commons : Sweta Sofia Church  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 42 ° 41 ′ 47.5 "  N , 23 ° 19 ′ 53.5"  E