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Seven Saints Church

A converted 16th-century Ottoman mosque now dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius and their five disciples, the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.

Where
Sredets
Time needed
30 min visit
Tickets
Free
Free entry
Yes
Seven Saints Church, a former mosque with a small garden in front Seven Saints Church, a former mosque with a small garden in front

What to expect at Seven Saints Church

Sveti Sedmochislenitsi — literally the Church of the Seven Saints — began life as the Black Mosque in 1528, designed by Mimar Sinan. When the Ottomans left Sofia in 1878, the mosque was abandoned, used as a military warehouse and prison, then in 1901-1903 converted into an Orthodox church dedicated to Cyril, Methodius and their five disciples Clement, Naum, Sava, Gorazd and Angelarius — the seven saints who created the Cyrillic alphabet and evangelised the Slavs. The lower walls are Ottoman; the upper structure and dome, the porch and the small garden are 20th-century Bulgarian Revival.

Inside, the space is unusually square and low compared to Sofia's other Orthodox churches — the geometry of the mosque underneath is impossible to hide. Frescoes are early 20th century, the iconostasis Bulgarian Revival with carved grapevines. What draws locals is not the art but the atmosphere; this is the neighbourhood church for the smart Sredets residential streets, quieter than Alexander Nevsky, and Sofia weddings here are legendary. The garden in front has a bust of Patriarch Kiril and benches that fill with pensioners feeding pigeons.

A good five-minute detour if you are walking between Vitosha Boulevard and Alexander Nevsky along the pretty Graf Ignatiev shopping street. Come Sunday morning for the choir. The nearby streets — Rakovski, Han Krum, Solunska — are full of Sofia's best small hotels in the $30-50 range, so if you are staying in the neighbourhood this is likely your local church. The Doctors' Garden and Central Market Hall are both a 10-minute walk.

Plan your visit TicketsFree Free entryYes Time needed30 min visit WhereSredets Opening hours Daily 7:30-18:00 Liturgy Sun 9:00 Hotels near Seven Saints Church

Questions about Seven Saints Church

Is there a fee?

No. Entry is free.

When is it free?

All the time — always free.

How long to visit?

20-30 minutes with the garden.

Are there closed days?

Open daily 7:30-18:00.

Do I need to book?

No booking.

Nearest metro?

NDK on Line M2 or Serdika on M1/M2, both about 8 minutes walk.

Where to stay

Hotels near Seven Saints Church

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