Church Wrapped in State - The Rotunda of St. George - Sofia, Bulgaria

The Rotunda of St. George is the oldest building in Sofia and is located in the courtyard of The Presidency. It was built during the 4th century AD. The building has been used for public meetings, as a baptistery and then, during the reign of Emperor Justinian the Great from 527 – 565, it officially became a church. It was then that the first frescos were painted and the church was named for St. George the Martyr. In the early 1500's, during Ottoman rule, the church was converted into a mosque. The Christian themed frescos were replaced with floral patterns. At the end of the Ottoman occupation, in 1878, the building was abandoned for a short period then became a mausoleum. Finally, in 1915, the restoration of the rotunda began. Today, the church has daily services where you can hear Byzantine music.

Take a trip with me around the grounds of this fascinating church wrapped in State.

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Entering the shared courtyard of The Presidency building and the Sheraton Hotel , you'll find the St. George Rotunda. On one hand, it's a bit surreal to see this humble church in the middle of government and commercial buildings but, on the other hand, this occurs all over the city...Roman ruins are literally everywhere.

The lion is the national symbol of Bulgaria. The one on this gate is my personal favorite of all I have seen so far.

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Further in, you will be able to see the ruins of the complex. I think black and white suits this shot...don't you agree. ;)

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bnr.bg

This site map shows that things have changed over the centuries most likely due to invasions and earthquakes.

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You are able to walk down into the ruins for a closer look.

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A few of the saints of the church are buried on the grounds.

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As someone who comes from a relatively young country, I still find myself amazed by ancient columns just strewn about...

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...and by intricate stone carvings. I often wonder if the Roman artisans had any inkling that their work would be appreciated so far into the future. (That's just how my mind works...constantly asking unanswerable questions.)

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I was inspired by the brickwork...all those curves and arches are pretty spectacular!

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Here is some natural beauty on the grounds.

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This is the humble entry to the church.

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There was a sign in narthex / atrium that said "no photography". I assumed that meant inside the actual church. If I misunderstood, may the powers that be forgive me for taking these next couple of pictures. ;)

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Prayers offered for loved ones.

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bulgariatravel.org

The inside of the church is worth sharing so I found the next few pictures on the internet. Simple and beautiful.

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commons.wikimedia.org

Frescos - the big picture...

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pravoslavieto.com

...and up close.

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I found this juxtaposition amusing. The amount of money it would take to buy a Cartier bracelet would have probably supported this church for years on end, back in the day!

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I hope you enjoyed this jaunt around the Rotunda of St. George. I found myself going back multiple times. I mean, how often do you find yourself walking by a church built in the 4th century?!

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!steemitworldmap 42.697017 lat 23.322883 long St. George Rotunda d3scr