Synodal Palace

The Synodal Palace, located near one of Sofia’s symbols, the Memorial Temple ‘St. Alexander Nevski,’ and the historic ‘St. Sofia’ church, impresses tourists with its stylistic uniqueness and look. It serves as the administrative headquarters for the Bulgarian Orthodox churches and the Holy Synod.

Petko Momchilov and Jordan Milanov designed the Synodal Palace. The building started in 1904 and was ultimately finished in 1909. The palace, with its stunning exterior and architectural style, adds to the beauty of Bulgaria’s capital.

The exterior is designed in the Byzantine style, with white and brick rings, windows, and arches alternated.

The memorial of Hilarion Makariopolski, one of the early founders of the Bulgarian National Revival, stands in front of the building’s main entrance, within a small, attractive garden. He was a delegate to the Holy Synod.

The Synod chapel has been dedicated to Tzar Boris I, the forefather of the Christian Church in Bulgaria, who Christianized Bulgaria.

The courtyard of the Synodal House is designed in the manner of Italian palace parks.

Unfortunately, the original sculptural pieces were destroyed during WWII. Today, the Synodal Palace serves as the residence of the Bulgarian Patriarch and is available to the public.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church is the most ancient Slavic Orthodox Church. The church has around 6.5 million followers in Bulgaria and 1.5 – 2 million members outside of Bulgaria.

In 927 AD, the Patriarchate of Constantinople acknowledged the Bulgarian Orthodox Church as an autonomous church.

The building’s extremely effective style, with the perfect mix of materials, colors, forms, and figures, provides the whole notion of a building-monument designed with a feeling of duty and beauty.