Cathedral of Saint Joseph and Ancient Serdica Western Gate - Sofia, Bulgaria

Описание: A short walk around the Cathedral of Saint Joseph and the ruins of the Ancient Serdica Western Gate.

Cathedral of Saint Joseph Description
The Cathedral of St Joseph (Bulgarian: катедрала „Св. Йосиф“) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is the co-cathedral of the Diocese of Sofia and Plovdiv, together with the Cathedral of St Louis in Plovdiv.

The cathedral, rebuilt at its previous location after it was destroyed by Allied bombing raids during World War II, was inaugurated on 21 May 2006 in the presence of Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid personally by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Bulgaria in 2002.

"Saint Joseph" is the largest Catholic cathedral in Bulgaria has 350 seats and can hold up to 1,000 worshipers. The cathedral is 23 metres long, 15 metres wide is, is 19 metres high main body of the building with a roof height of 23 metres and the tower is equipped with four electronically operated bells, is 33 metres high. The cathedral is equipped with body and over the altar stands 7 meter wooden cross of Christ. Under cross is the icon of Mary (mother of Jesus), given by Patriarch Maxim at the dedication of the temple.

On both sides of presbytery are two statues, the patron of St. Joseph Cathedral and Capuchin patron St. Francis of Assisi.

On the right side of the entrance is the icon of God's Mercy with the inscription: "Jesus, I trust to thee." This icon is linked to the devotion to the Divine Mercy and the coming of Jesus into the world Faustina Kowalska. At the entrance is the statue of the Mary (mother of Jesus) in Lourdes in 1858 appeared to St. Bernadette Subiru to be declared as a pure conception. On the other side of the gate of the cathedral are the statues of some of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church - St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Carmelite barefoot and St Anton from Padua Franciscan.

To the fence of the cathedral is a statue of Pope John XXIII, which was consecrated by Pope John Paul II during his visit in 2002 in the parish.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedr...


Western Gate Description
The Western Gate is an "in-situ" archeological complex, including parts of the fortification system of ancient Serdica, along with town planning elements - streets, buildings and drains. The archeological park is shaped as a space with cultural functions - concerts, theater performances, events are conducted.

Historical Information
The first fortification wall of Serdica was erected in the second half of the 2nd century AD. It had a width of 2.20 m. At the end of the 3rd , the beginning of the 4th c.АD, a remodeling of the wall was undertaken and a ditch was dug in front of it - 14 m west of the Western gate at about 2 m deep and 5 m wide, functioning in the 4th century. It is possible that there were vertically dug dots on the periphery and at the bottom of the ditch. There was a bridge to cross the ditch. In the second half of the 6th century AD there was a falling door and a two-winged door, closed with a massive horizontal beam. Probably at the end of the 6th century and the beginning of the 7th century AD the falling door was no longer functioning. There was a two-door gate. After the middle of the 5th century, a new 1.80 m wide wall was added to the first one. Triangular towers were built along its length. The dyke no more exists, but 20 m. in front of the fortress wall another defense line - proteichisma- has been erected - with a width of about 1.50 m.

https://www.visitsofia.bg/en/cityinfr...