The
SOF
4.
Rotunda "St. George"
2, Knyaz Alexander Dondukov Blvd.
It is located in the courtyard between the Presidency buildings and the Sheraton Hotel.
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE The Rotunda dates back to the Roman period of the city, during the times of Emperor Constantine the Great. Back then, the city used to be one of the largest at the Balkan Peninsula, and in Serdika (at present, Sofia) there used to be an Emperor’s residence, where Constantine stayed on many occasions.
The Rotunda dates back to the period of Earliest Christianity, the time when the Emperor declared it as an official religion in the Roman Empire. Probably the building existed earlier on, yet back then it was outlined as baptistery, designated for mass baptisms.
Later on, during the period of Emperor Justinian the Great (527-565) the Rotunda turned from baptistery into church and its name dates back since then.
It is a part of the complex that includes preserved Roman street with sewerage system, foundations of a basilica and remnants of public buildings where there is a preserved part of Roman heating system.
It used to be an important Christian building. There is information according to which inside it, in 343 an important Council for The Christian world was held. Later on, in the XV century, it became a Metropolitan cathedral and maintained the relics of two saints.
From its establishment to present days, it is an effective Orthodox Christian temple. The only interruption was during the Turkish Rule (1396-1878), when it was turned into a mosque and its Christian wall-paintings were erased with white paint and replaced with floral motives typical to the Islam. Yet after the Liberation, this layer was eliminated, the minaret was eliminated and the interior was restored to its present appearance. Under the floor there still is built-in Roman ancient ventilation system that was used for moisture elimination.
Today, thanks to the preserved frescos, we could see the traces of Antique and Medieval painting dating back to the VI century, the images of angels dating back to IX-X century, as well as images of saints dating back to the XI-XII century, and the central image of Christ dating back to XIV century was preserved.
Orthodox mass is performed on daily basis in the ancient liturgy language of the Orthodox Slavs – church slavonic, where the songs are performed in singing typical to the ancient orthodox church, also known as Byzantine music.
NEAR BY you can see also
LARGO or
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
For millennia, this is the central-most place of Sofia. Today, here co-live Roman remnants, Ottoman buildings, the palace dates back to the epoch of the Kingdom of Bulgaria, buildings from the communist era and modern architectural ensembles. The place carries memories of old and already non-existent streets and buildings, others are still untouched by time.
CHURCH
"ST. PETKA
the little one "
This ancient church was built in 1241, according to an inscription above its entrance. Nevertheless, it could be even older, because it is located beneath the urban level and is levelled with the Rotunda “Saint George” and the antique Roman remnants dating back to the dawn of Christianity and are located at the opposite side of the street.
Inside it there is an ayasmo – a spring whose water is perceived as miraculous holly water.
