St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the crown jewel of Sofia. It is one of the largest Eastern orthodox cathedrals in the world. Its foundation stone was laid in 1882. However, most of the construction work actually took place between 1904 and 1912. It is designed to accommodate over 7,000 people at a time and covers over 2,600 sq m. This spectacular cathedral was built in Neo-Byzantine style, an interesting amalgamation of Eastern and Western influences. The external domes were covered in gold leaf, donated by Russia in 1960. The reflection of these golden domes attracts attention from miles away.
The interiors of this cathedral are every bit as impressive as the grand exterior. It houses many large bells with the heaviest weighing 12 tons. Adorned with Italian marble, Brazilian onyx, alabaster, gold and many other costly materials, the interiors of the church are awe-inspiring to say the least. The space is lined with icons, murals, engravings, frescos and mosaics. The main dome is 45 m tall and Christian Lord’s Prayer is inscribed with thin golden letters around it. The gorgeous chandeliers suspended from the domes were specially made for the church in Munich, Germany.

Alexander Nevski cathedral crypt boasts of the largest collection of orthodox icons in Europe. The crypt is located in the basement of the church where visitors can see many historical masterpieces.