The Church Cyril and Methodius and Their Five Disciples in Sofia

The church Cyril and Methodius and Their Five Disciples rises in the real center of Sofia. It was built over the ruins the former Black Mosque in the beginning of 20th century. The Black Mosque was a part of the second mosque complex and was the biggest work of the prominent Ottoman architect Mimar Kodja Sinan in the Rumelia district. After the Liberation (1878) the mosque was used as military warehouse, later as prison. In 1901-1903 the mosque was reconstructed in Orthodox temple with the donations of Sofia citizens. The church was devoted to the Cyril and Methodius brothers and their five disciples Kliment, Naum, Sava, Gorazd, and Angelariy. The church’s architecture involves elements of the church building from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The clock at the west façade is quite impressive, it was worked out in the 30s of 20th century. It is a rare element, not typical for the Bulgarian church architecture. The space surrounding the church was cleaned and a beautiful garden was formed. There the Bulgarian politic Petko Karavelov was buried as a sign of appreciation of his active assistance for turning the mosque into a Christian church.