[2025 Sofia Attraction] Travel Guide for Church of St. Nicholas the Miraclemaker (Updated Apr)

Sofia, Bulgaria is a city rich in culture and you can visit many Orthodox Christian churches here that are of historical significance. Getting around - You can get around using Metro or on foot. 1. St Nikolas Russian Church Highlights - This is a stunning architectural gem. The church blends Russian Orthodox tradition with a vibrant golden domes and intricate mosaics. There is a beautiful garden outside offering a peaceful haven in the heart of the city. 2. St Sophia Church Highlights - This is a historic Byzantine basilica from 6th century, renowned for its ancient architecture and as the namesake of Sofia city. 3. St George Rotunda Church Highlights - This ancient church is from 4th century and is known for the frescos. It is the oldest preserved building in the city. 4. St Nedelya Church Highlights - This is a historic Eastern Orthodox church with a striking dome architecture. #churches #photolocation #bulgaria #sofia #culture #100waysoftravel #travellerswonderland

Bulgarian-Russian Church St. Nicholas the Divine Worker, known as the Russian Church, is an Orthodox church in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, dedicated to St. Nicholas the Divine Worker. It is one of the city's landmark buildings. Its construction began in the late 19th century (the exact date is unknown, alternating between different building projects), took place over many years, and was consecrated in 1914, on the eve of the First World War. Architecturally, the church is built in the tradition of Russian church architecture of the 19th century - retaining old Russian elements - the so-called "bulb" (dome), combined with traditional old Russian mosaics and carvings, it has more signs of modernity architecture. and painting. In the crypt of the church is the tomb of Archbishop Seraphim Sobolev (Saint Seraphim, Archbishop of Boguchar, Miracle Worker of Sofia). Thousands of believers and non-believers approach him for miraculous help before exams, important decisions in life, or in times of illness and need. They often wrote their prayers on paper and placed them in a special box next to his tomb. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, known as the Russian Church, is an Orthodox church in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It is one of the emblematic buildings of the city. Its construction began in the late 19th century (the exact date is unknown, as different architectural projects alternate), and lasted for many years, and was consecrated in 1914 on the eve of the First World War. Architecturally, the church was built in the tradition of Russian church architecture from the 19th century - with preserved ancient Russian elements - the so-called "bulbs" (domes), combined with traditional Old Russian mosaics and carvings, it bears the hallmarks of more modern architecture. and painting. In the crypt of the church is the tomb of Archbishop Seraphim Sobolev (St. Seraphim, Archbishop of Boguchar, Sofia Miracle Worker). Thousands of believers and non-believers turn to him with a request for miraculous help before exams, important decisions in life or in times of illness and need. They often write down their prayers on paper and put them in a special box next to his grave.

It is about 110 kilometers from Rila Monastery to Sofia, and the road conditions are very good. 📜 Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is an ancient city with a long history in Europe, formerly known as "Serdica". It was built and settled by the Thracian Serdi tribe from the 8th to the 7th century BC, and has a history of more than 2800 years. Many of the city's historical monuments are well preserved. The main attractions include the three major churches, the Parliament building, the Presidential Palace, and the trams. Bulgarian rose water and perfumes are very famous and are favorites among many girls. 1⃣ Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: It is a Neo-Byzantine architecture and also one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. It is also one of the symbols of Sofia. It can accommodate 10,000 people and is the second largest cathedral on the Balkan Peninsula after the Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade. (Picture 6) 2⃣ St. Nicholas Russian Church: Its official name is St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker Church, and it is a Russian Eastern Orthodox church. The church was built on the original site of the destroyed Saray Mosque in 1882, serving as the official church of the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria. The five domes on top of the church are all wrapped in pure gold. (1/4 of the collage in Picture 1) 3⃣ Saint Sophia Church: The Saint Sophia Church is the second oldest church in Sofia, dating back to the 6th century. Its exterior is not very noticeable nor can it be considered beautiful, as it was built on the foundations of several existing churches. In the 2nd century, it was a Roman theater. There are many cemeteries around, and many people hold funerals here, so we did not get too close. (Picture 7) 4⃣ There are many trams on the streets of Sofia, in yellow, green, and blue, which occasionally pass by, creating a picturesque scene. The taxis in Sofia have almost the same color and design as those in Chongqing. If you don't look at the advertisements and company names, you might think you are in Chongqing hailing a taxi . ❤️ Warm tips: The local currency in Bulgaria is the Lev (лев), with 1 Lev being approximately equal to 0.5 euros. The price of 95 octane gasoline is roughly more than 10 yuan, and the prices in supermarkets are a bit higher than in North Macedonia. Larger stores accept card payments and euros, but the change might be given in Levs.

"St. Nicholas Russian Church" faces Tsar Osvoboditel Street in the center of the capital Sofia, and when you see it with your own eyes, you can see the scenery of the Russian Kremlin area that you often see on TV, and the "onion" spire is the very image of Russia. I was immediately hit with the feeling that I had come to "Eastern Europe"!! It was built by the Russian Empire in 1882 ~ #Heritage

Before the epidemic, I traveled across Europe, Asia, and Africa, passing through Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Few people have been to Eastern European countries, which used to be former Soviet countries and are still not very wealthy, so prices are relatively low and the CP value is very high! Stone lions can be seen everywhere in the capital Sofia, as if they are the mascot of Bulgaria. You can also see the goddess Sofia standing high up, praying for the Bulgarian people. Before I went there, the price was 18 New Taiwan dollars to 1 Bulgarian dollar. Downstairs in the hotel, they were selling a large slice of pizza for only 1 Bulgarian dollar, which was ridiculously cheap! Roman relics can be seen everywhere in the capital, and the subway also coexists with the relics because they were excavated. If you like to see Roman relics, then come to Bulgaria, it's free! There is also a place where you can drink hot spring water. Bulgarians will bring a lot of empty plastic bottles and fill them up with hot spring water to take home. I heard that it can prolong life. I also drank a lot of it there. I wonder if I can live longer as the legend says? You can take a night bus from Istanbul to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, which can save you one night's hotel money. You can try it!

No pictures are allowed from inside but from outside you can already have an ideia why you MUST visit the Russian Church "Sveti Nikolay Mirlikiiski" in Bulgaria. It is beautiful and it was builded in 1914. It is very colorful from outside and inside and it doesn’t seem a church at all. The entrance is free and you don’t need to have a reservation. It is located in Sofia downtown and it completely worth the visit! The day we visited they were having an orthodox traditional cerimonial day and it felt very magic even we don’t understand anything about this religion. 🤗 The church is a piece of art and you should visit it while in Sofia, Bulgaria. #art