TEMPLES OF THE MAJOR RELIGIONS IN SOFIA

Back Church St Paraskeva

 

Church was built according to the design of the architect Anton Torniov in a Neobyzantine style with elements of late art nouveau. The church was dedicated to St. Paraskevi (Petka) of Iconium. The idea to build the new church in place of the old one, which was half-delapidated, dates back to 1909 but the Balkan Wars and World War I were the reason for the postponement of the building, which ended in 1944.

The shaping of the nave as a round hall, without columns and a diameter of more than 20 metres is unusual for church achitecture. The exceptional acoustics are due to the half-cupolas situated under the central cupola which enable the “spreading” of the sound. The Iconostasis, the Prelate throne, the pulpit, the rood-lofts and the panelling of the balcony were made by the wood-carvers Prof. Ivan Trovnitski and Prof. Todor Hristov. The iconostasis icons were painted by Prof. Stefan Ivanov, Prof. Marin Drinov and Prof. Sergey Shishov.