Archeological sections of St Sofia Church to be opened to the public in 2011

15/2/2010

After years of restoration work, archeological sections of the St Sofia church in the Bulgarian capital city would be opened to the public in summer 2011, Deputy Culture Minister Todor Chobanov said..

Chobanov and Sofia mayor Yordanka Fandukova visited the church on February 12 to inspect progress, a Culture Ministry media statement said on February 15 2010.

Over the past 12 years of the restoration of the church, Sofia Municipality had invested 1.8 million leva, including 100 000 leva in the last year alone, Fandukova was quoted in the statement as saying.

Over the past year, the Directorate Religion of the Cabinet had also invested 200 000 leva in archeological research.

Construction of the underground sections of the church had been supported and partially renewed, the media statement said.

WIth the support of the Culture Ministry, Sofia Municipality had applied for 1.5 million leva under the Operational Programme Regional Development, with which it intended to finance remaining work before the sections would be opened to the public.

The sections included antique graves and around 70 sq m mosaic which are part of remains from older churches.

The presentation would be enhanced with modern technology, including sound and special lighting, Chobanov said.

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