Transfiguration of Christ Church, Orthodox church in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The Transfiguration of Christ Church stands at 2 Ralitsa Street in Sofia's Lozenets district, by the Perlovska River near the NDK. Rebuilt in 1945 after the Anglo-American bombing of 10 January 1944, it is a three-nave church with a transept at the entrance and a bell tower, longer and taller than the 1928 original. Its two altars hold relics of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Tryphon.
The parish church was built in 1928 as a three-nave building with a transept at the entrance and a bell tower. Anglo-American bombing destroyed it on 10 January 1944. Exarch Stefan I supported its reconstruction in summer and autumn 1945; the new church was longer and taller, with architect Todor Azmanov and master builder Pavel Todorov.
The church's patronal feast is the Transfiguration on 6 August, when the liturgy is traditionally served by the Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia. The days of Saint Barbara, Saint Tryphon and Saint John the Baptist are also solemnly observed. A garden with a children's playground occupies the large churchyard.
The church is centrally located in Sofia and easily accessible by public transportation with bus and tram stops nearby. Visitors should dress modestly and maintain quiet behavior inside to respect the active place of worship.
The north altar, kept from the pre-war church, holds relics of Saint Tryphon and is consecrated to the Holy Cross. In 1957 the Russian community of Lozenets obtained a relic of Saint Barbara from Kyiv; her chapel was later enlarged into a separate chapel when the new bell tower was built.
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