Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

608 SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp636–8 and pp639–41

Mosaic of Christ

This mosaic of Christ, with arms outstretched,

fills the tympanum over the portal’s central arch.

Main

entrance

STAR FEATURES

. Icon Gallery in Crypt
. Iconostasis

Exterior of

the Church

The church’s domes are

its outstanding fea ture.

While the central dome

and belfry are gold-

plated, the others are

plated with copper,

which has devel-

oped a green hue.

. Icon Gallery in Crypt
With icons dating from the
12th to the 19th centuries
and several delicately carved
iconostases, this gallery con-
tains the richest collection
of religious art in Bulgaria.

West

window

Entrance

to the crypt

Mosaic portrait

in the church

Crowned with a cluster of gilt domes, the Aleksandûr
Nevski Memorial Church (Hram-pametnik
Aleksandûr Nevski) was built in stages between
1882 and 1924 to commemo rate Russia’s mili-
tary contribution to the War of Liberation of
1877–8. It is named after one of Russia’s most
revered medieval rulers, Prince Aleksandûr
Nevski of Novgorod (1220–63), who defeated
the Teutonic knights on the frozen waters
of Lake Peipsi in Estonia in 1242. Model led on Russian
Neo-Byzantine churches, it is built in pale Bulgarian
lime stone. The solemn interior is bathed in amber light,
enhan ced by the glow of hundreds of flickering candles.

Aleksandûr Nevski Memorial Church 7
Храм-паметник “Александър Невски”