Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bishop's Basilica in Plovdiv officially opens

| updated on 4/18/21 1:28 PM
Photo: plovdiv.bg

On the occasion of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, the restored Bishop's Basilica of ancient Philippopolis or today's Plovdiv has officially opened.

US Ambassador Herro Mustafa was also present at the event, which was broadcast live on the website of the Plovdiv municipality and on Facebook.

After 5 years of restoration work on the building and the unique mosaics, the basilica opens doors for the citizens of Plovdiv and guests of the city. The building is unique when it comes to its scale, architecture and decoration, ranking among the most representative early Christian sites in this part of the Balkans. It is no coincidence that it has been included in the UNESCO Cultural and Natural Heritage list.

Over 8 million euros have been invested in the restoration within the framework of a joint project of the Municipality of Plovdiv and the America for Bulgaria Foundation. A complete restoration and conservation of the archaeological artifacts has been done, a covering building was constructed, and the surrounding square space has been renovated.

The Bishop's Basilica will be open to visitors on Monday.


You can learn more about this indisputable architectural masterpiece from the article "New lease of life for the ancient episcopal basilica in Plovdiv" , part of the rich collection of Radio Bulgaria.

Compiled by: Veneta Nikolova

English: Alexander Markov



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

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks start of ecclesiastical New Year on September 1

The New Church Year begins on September 1. The month of September is the seventh month of the year according to the Jewish calendar. It is associated with a number of biblical events, which is why it was designated as the beginning of the Church New..

published on 9/1/25 12:19 PM

In the footsteps of medieval monks – the hidden face of the Ivanovo Rock Monastery

High in the canyon of the Rusenski Lom River lies one of the most impressive spiritual centers of Bulgaria. It is a complex of dozens of rock-hewn cells, chapels and churches carved on both sides of the river , which came to life in the 13th century..

published on 8/31/25 11:35 AM

A liturgy was held on St. John Island near Sozopol for the first time in 500 years

For the first time in 500 years, the chants of the Divine Liturgy echoed through the ruins of the medieval monastery ''St. John the Baptist'' on St. John Island near Sozopol. The occasion was the commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist,..

published on 8/29/25 11:30 AM