Churches

Orthodox Temples

The Church of St. Marina

7, Dr. G. Valkovich Str.

tel.: 032/623 276

Open for visitation from7.00a.m. to20.00p.m. - daily

The church of St. Marina – the main temple of the Plovdiv diocese and its church administration – Plovdiv Bishopric, is one of the oldest in town. It was restored as a bishop’s temple in 1853 over the ruins of a medieval church of the sixteenth century. One of the most precious carved iconostasis made from walnut wood with a length of 21 meters is situated here. Over the northern entrance rises multi-storeyedwooden bell tower, built in 1870 with distinctive for the Bulgarian traditions architecture.

The Church of St. Nedelya

40 P.R. Slaveykov Str., Old Plovdiv

tel.: 032/623 270

Open for visitation from8.00a.m. to18.00p.m. - daily

The church of St. Nedelya is one of the oldest temples of the Three-hills. It was built in 1832 over an older temple. It has an impressive 30-meter solid four-storeybell towerbuilt in 1905.

The Church of St. St. Konstantin and Elena

24, Saborna Str., Old Plovdiv

tel.: 032/ 624 573

Open for visitation from8.00a.m. to19.00p.m. - daily

The Orthodox temple has existed in its current outlook since 1832 together with St. Nedelya. The iconostasis is with baroque carving and polychrome decoration and gilt, and the two rows of icons were painted by Zahari Zograf, a renaissance artist. The icon-painters Nikola Odrinchanin and Stanislav Dospevski also worked here. The temple is in ensemble with the other buildings in the yard - former school, male convent as well as the bell tower with a height of 13 meters.

St. Bogoroditsa Cathedral

6, Saborna Str., Old Plovdiv

tel.: 032/ 623 265

Open for visitation from7.00a.m. to19.00p.m. - daily

In 1844, then a little medieval church was demolished and in its place was built an imposing three- nave pseudo-basilica. In 1859, a liturgy in Bulgarian was held for the first time here, which sets the beginning of the movement for an independent Bulgarian church. In the St. Bogoroditsa Cathedral are preserved exceptional paintings – icons, frescoes and stained glass, as well as carved iconostasis. The bell tower dates back to 1880 and was designed by Joseph Schnitter.

Temples of other religions

Surp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church

2, Turist Str., Old Plovdiv

tel.: 032/ 632 804

Open for visitation from9.00a.m. to17.00p.m. - daily

The temple was built in its present outlook in 1828 to replace a much older Orthodox temple dating back to the fifth century, repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The Armenian community in the town purchased this church from the Patriarchate of Constantinople and restored it in 1675 – 1677.

St. Ludwig Catholic Cathedral

3, Knyaginya Mariya Luiza Blvd.

tel. 032/650 291

Open for visitation from8.30a.m. to12.00p.m. and from 15.00p.m. to 19.00p.m. – daily

The temple was built in 1858 – 1861 after the project of the Roman architect Alfonso. After a fire in 1930 it was rebuilt and reconstructed. To this day, St. Ludwig is the largest Catholic cathedral in the country with a capacity of 600 people. In the temple are preserved the gravestones of Plovdiv bishops of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchinas well as the grave monument of the Bulgarian Princess Maria Louisa, the mother of Tzar Boris III.

Evangelical Congregational Church

21, Lady Strangford Str.                                                                                                                            tel.: 032/625 995                                                                                                                                        Services: Sunday– after10.00a.m.; Wednesday and Saturday – after 17.00p.m.                                                                                       

With the arrival of American missionaries in 1858 to Plovdiv, the beginning of evangelism propagation in town was set. The temple is massive, built in Gothic style of hewn granite. It was built at the foot of Sahat Tepe. It was officially consecrated during the second general assembly of the Evangelical congregational churchesin 1901.

Zion Jewish Synagogue

13a, Tzar Kaloyan Str.

Contacts: Jewish Organization Shalom– Plovdiv, tel. 032/632 622

The temple is not open for visitations, services are held every Friday between 17.00 and 19.00 p.m.

It was built in 1886-1887 and expanded in 1922. A complete exterior and interior restoration of the building and reshaping of the yard was made in the period 1998 – 2003.

Dzhumaya Mosque

2, Zhelezarska Str.

tel.: 032/629 097; 032/621 137

Open for visitation from6.00 a.m. to23.00 p.m.

Dzhumaya mosque is an active Muslim temple, the second largest on the territory of Bulgaria with an area of about 1500 sq. m. Sources indicate different years of construction of the temple, between fourteenth and sixteenth century. During the nineteenth century a wooden building with public functions /library café/ was built on the north side.

Imaret Mosque

2, Visla Str.

Open for visitation from9.00 a.m. to23.00 p.m.

This is the second notable Muslim temple in Plovdiv, built on the south bank of the Maritsa River in 1444-1445. The name of the mosque is associated with the Imaret built in the mosque’s yard which existed until the late nineteenth century where Muslim passengers received free food and accommodation.