Holy Trinity Cathedral

The Holy Trinity Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in the city of Ruse on the Danube river. It stands next to the modern day opera house. Built beneath the ground in 1632, it is the oldest church in the city and was constructed during the period of Ottoman occupation. As it keeps the holy relics of a number of saints, Ruse's cathedral is often visited by pilgrims. Its rich history and underground interior also pose an interest for tourists, making it one of the main attractions of the city.

Architecture

It is a three-nave pseudo-basilica that is 31.20 m long and 15.60 m wide. Two rows of seven columns separate the naves. It was dug four and a half meters below the level of the yard due to the requirements of Ottoman authorities. The remains of catacombs, possibly dating back to the fifth century, are located in the southwest corner of the temple. During Ottoman rule, it was easier to issue permission for the construction of a new church at the location of an older temple. The Christians of Ruse presumably used the old catacomb to build the church.

The hexagonal belfry is 19 m high and was built with stones from the fortification facilities around the Ruschuk fortress, demolished by decision of the Berlin Congress from July 1878. There are five bells in the belfry. In the cathedral's narthex are the graves of four bishops of the Dorostolo-Cherven diocese: Grigoriy, Valisiy, Mihail, and Sofroniy.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Sveta Troitza 5, Ruse, Bulgaria

Details

Founded: 1632
Category: Religious sites in Bulgaria