Saint Nedelia Church

The orthodox church "Sveta Nedelya" located in the city centre in Sofia has given its name to the square andsymbolizes the power of faith that survived through centurie and rises at the height of the minaret of next-standing mosque which can be viewed from the North. The Vitosha Boulevard, one of the longest shopping streets in Sofia, has its start from the square "Sveta Nedelia".

The Church of St Nedelya, situaded on the southern boundary of the square Sveta Nedelya, was built after the liberation as the successor to a number of churches that have been already built here since medieval times. South of the church St Nedelya, the silhouette of Mount Vitosha arises and can be seen over the rooftops of Vitosha Bulevard.

The church ‘Sveta Nedelya’ is ornamented with loads of frescoes all over the whole consruction. Beside the political side of the national church question the new trends in iconography and the evolution of new themes and images in religious painting and wood-carving arise. Valuable examples of that can be found in the "Sveta Nedelya"church (built in 1832) with its wood-carved iconostasis, as well as in the work of artists belonging to the Debur school and especially in the icons by Dimitur Zograf.

The church Sveta Nedelja, with its huge dome, is a typical example of neo-Byzantine architecture. There had been a church here since medieval times, although the present building dates from the mid-19th century. In 1925, the church was almost fully destroyed when Communist rebels exploded a bomb during a funeral service, attended by Tsar Boris III and his cabinet ministers, killing 123 people.