The cathedral was built in honour of the Russian soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, which led to Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule, and it is dedicated to the Russian prince Saint Alexander Nevsky. The foundation stone was laid in 1882, but most of the construction took place between 1904 and 1912, to a Neo-Byzantine design by the Russian architect Alexander Pomerantsev. The cathedral was consecrated in 1924 and today serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria.
The golden central dome rises 45 metres, and the bell tower reaches 53 metres. Inside, visitors can admire Italian marble, Brazilian onyx, alabaster and walls covered with murals by Bulgarian and Russian artists. The crypt houses a museum of Orthodox icons that is part of the National Gallery. The square outside is lined with other landmarks, including the ancient St. Sofia Church.
Beautiful at any time of day, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is especially striking when its domes glow in the evening light.
