The story of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Look up at the gold-plated dome, 45 metres high, and at the bell tower rising to 53 metres. This is one of the largest Christian church buildings by volume in the world, able to hold 5,000 worshippers. It was built in honour of the Russian soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, which freed Bulgaria from Ottoman rule, and it is named after the Russian prince Saint Alexander Nevsky.

The foundation stone was laid in 1882, but most of the work took place between 1904 and 1912, to a design by Alexander Pomerantsev. Its materials came from across Europe: marble and lighting from Munich, metal for the gates from Berlin, the gates themselves from Vienna and the mosaics from Venice. Its 12 bells weigh 23 tons in all.

During the First World War, when Bulgaria and Russia were on opposing sides, it was briefly named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, from 1916 to 1920. It was consecrated on 12 September 1924.