Church of Saint Paraskeva was completed in 1930. It was dedicated to a martyr woman by a name of Paraskeva who lived 10th century Thracia. It is third largest church in Sofia. It was designed by Anton Tornyov (1868- 1942). Its lack of columns and unusual design of domes created perfect acoustics for the church choir.
A decision to build the new temple was taken on April 4, 1909. The church was designed to accommodate the large number of migrants arriving in the capital. Its 3000 m² courtyard was ransomed for 70,000 leva by the brothers Genovei and the Kotsevi brothers. On November 2, 1910 a competition for the architectural plan of the temple was announced. The competition was won by architect Anton Thornyov . He is also entrusted with the execution of the construction plan. Wars in the second decade of the century postponed construction. In 1922, the Church Board of Trustees announced a new contest, won again by Thornyov. The construction continued from 1926 to 1930, and the finishing works on the door porters 10 years later. The means of establishing the church come from the Emperors of the Emperor, parishioners at the ancient temple " St. Petka Samardzijska"As well as the generous assistance of the parishioners, especially Boris Shtarbanov, Ivan Rogachev, Sterju Damyanov, Petrush Talev, Ivan Tzochev, Spass Yosifov, Todor Plachev and many others. The developers include Michael Grande and Kiro Spasov. The iconostasis, the throne of the arch, the pulpit, the clerks and the cladding on the balcony were made by the carvers Prof. Ivan Tavornik and Prof. Todor Hristov. The icons in the central iconostasis and in the iconostasis of the two side chapels were made by Prof. Stefan Ivanov, Prof. Marin Drinov, Prof. Dimitar Gjurzhenov and Prof. Sergei Shishkov.
The decision to build the new temple
was made on April 4, 1909. The church is intended to accommodate the
large number of settlers who arrive in the capital. Her yard of 3000
m² was purchased for BGN 70,000 by the Genovi brothers and the
Kotsevi brothers. On November 2, 1910, a competition for the
architectural plan of the temple was announced. The competition was
won by architect Anton Tornyov. He was also entrusted with the
implementation of the construction plan. The wars in the second
decade of the century delayed construction. In 1922, the church's
board of trustees announced a new competition, won again by
Thornyov. Construction continued from 1926 to 1930, and the
finishing work on the entrance gates 10 years later. The funds for
the erection of the church come from the Samardzhi esnafs,
parishioners at the ancient church of St. Petka Samardzhian, as well
as the generous assistance of the parishioners and especially Boris
Shcherbanov, Ivan Rogachev, Shtery Damyanov, Petrush Talev, Ivan
Tsofor, Ivan Tsavfor Tiled and many others. The construction also
involves the entrepreneurs Mikhail Grange and Kiro Spasov. The
iconostasis, the bishop's throne, the pulpit, the choirs (singers)
and the lining of the balcony are made by the carvers Prof. Ivan
Travnicki and Prof. Todor Hristov. The icons in the central
iconostasis and in the iconostases of the two side chapels are the
work of Prof. Stefan Ivanov, Prof. Marin Drinov, Prof. Dimitar
Gyurzhenov and Prof. Sergei Shishkov. The iconostasis columns are
the work of the Debar master Lazar Alexiev, who works under the
leadership of Ivan Travnitsky. There were icons in the temple by
Alexo Vasilev and Evgeny Popkuzmanov.
The architecture of the
temple is unusual. The Naos is a round hall with a diameter of over
20 m. The cover is a reinforced concrete shell, designed by engineer
Tsonev. The volume of St. Paraskeva's circular shaft is gradually
decomposed into girdling apse bodies in order to achieve full
equilibrium and influence of the vertical axis of symmetry. The
bells are located in a hidden vestibule above the dome shell and in
a semi-dome above the western apse body at the entrance.
The
central throne, in honor of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva, was
consecrated by Exarch Stefan I Bulgarian on April 6, 1930. The
northern throne of the altar dedicated to St. Haralampi was
consecrated in 1934 and the southern throne was dedicated to the
Theotokos by Patriarchal Patriarchal Bulgarian in 1960. The Church
celebrates October 28 - St. Paraskeva, February 10 - Holy Martyr
Haralampius, September 26 - St. John the Theologian, patron of one
side chapel, and November 11 - St. Mina, patron of the other.