Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Big early Christian cathedral found in the Rhodopes

Photo: Valya Apostolova

A team of archaeologists headed by Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov has discovered the foundations of a big episcopal early Christian cathedral in the rock town of Perperikon. 
The cathedral is dated to the second half of the 5th century. The building had a monumental colonnade, walls made of huge square blocks and beautiful monumental decorations. So far only the building’s central part (25 x 15 meters) has been unearthed, but the overall length is expected to be 40 meters or the size of the old bishopric in the town of Nessebar or of the St. Sofia church in the capital city. In the 9th century the cathedral was reconstructed into a single-nave basilica, again impressive in size. As a basilica it functioned right up to the 14th century when Perperikon was captured by the Ottoman Turks. A necropolis of vaulted tombs formed around it, 25 of which are fixed though they are yet to be uncovered. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Photo: Homo Faber team/Rosina Pencheva

Bulgaria is part of the Venice Homo Faber Biennial for creative artisanship and contemporary craftsmanship

Bulgarian culture and tradition, until recently exotic to the rest of the world, is gradually becoming part of 21 st century world culture – with the country’s participation in Homo Faber, the biggest forum of creative artisanship and contemporary..

updated on 9/17/24 10:12 AM

"I am Sofia" festival to kick off in the Bulgarian capital

"I am Sofia" - this is the name of the new city festival of arts and emotions, which will be held from September 17 to 23 in the space in front of the National Palace of Culture in the center of the Bulgarian capital. It is part of the "Sofia..

published on 9/17/24 6:05 AM

The first secular book - Riben Bukvar celebrates its 200th anniversary with a new edition

This year, 2024, marks the 200th anniversary of the so-called "Book of Miscellaneous Instruction" . This is the original title of the book, better known as "Riben Bukvar" (The Fish Primer) by Dr Petar Beron - a prominent figure of the Bulgarian Revival..

published on 9/16/24 8:55 AM