Iconic Bulgarian Church in Istanbul Reopens in Full Glory after Thorough Restoration
The Bulgarian church of St. Stephen, one of few surviving cast iron churches in the world, reopens solemnly Sunday following six years of major restoration completed at the end of 2017. The works, co-funded by Turkey and Bulgaria, engaged nearly 40 Turkish builders and conservationists. They have succeeded in returning the church to its full glory, project chief architect Fikriye Bulunmaz told BTA.
The event is expected to be attended by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as Bulgarians from Bulgaria and the local Bulgarian community.
St. Stephen's is iconic for Bulgarians as its site was where they first declared their wish for independence from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as a result of which the Bulgarian Exarchate was born.
BTA