St Paraskeva Church
Sofia daily city tours present the unusual Church of St Paraskeva. People who step into the shrine, are amazed by the church’s beauty and grandeur. The church shows great respect for the St Paraskeva Martyr.
St Paraskeva Church is the third-largest church in Sofia and is one of the most remarkable ones in the capital. Plans to build a church date back to the year 1910 when the architect Anton Tornyov won the competition for the church’s design. Due to the Balkan Wars and WWI, and some misunderstanding among the jury, the result of the competition was none and the construction was postponed. In 1922, the church board of trustees announced another competition, which was again won by Tornyov. The construction of the church was completed and the church was consecrated in 1930.
There used to be an old small one-naved building partially dug into the ground located in the very centre of both the modern and the antique city, in the TZUM (Central Department Store) subway. That is the Church of St Petka of the Saddlers. The church was dedicated to the saddlers because they were the ones who reconstructed, decorated and maintained it.
The Church of St Petka of the Saddlers was located quite far from its parishioners. Also it wasn’t big enough for all the parishioners. At that time many settlers came to Sofia. The need of a new church was obvious and the board of trustees bought the place (3000 sq. m.) where today’s St Paraskeva Church was built. Then comes the story with the architect and the costruction of the church.
Sofia daily city tours for St Paraskeva and her faith
Sofia daily city tours tell us the story of not only how the decision of a new church to be built was taken and then its construction. They also tell us about St Paraskeva – her life and what she believed in.
St Paraskeva Church is dedicated to Saint Paraskeva, who lived at the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century. She was born in a town in Asia Minor and was raised in the spirit of the Christian virtues. When Paraskeva’s parents died, their daughter inherited a lot. She was a devoted Christian like her parents. She was very happy to share her inheritance with the poor people. At the age of 16 she strongly stood up for her faith. She refused to honour the Roman Emperor as God. She was sentenced to death. The Christians buried her mortal remains in her house. Soon after that, many miracles and healings happened at her grave…
The Church of St Paraskeva will surely impress you with its unusual exterior. Once you are in, be ready to admire the same interior beauty as the exterior one.
Sofia daily city tours – your guide in known and unknown Sofia.
