The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Perched in the northern reaches of the Sea Garden, this sanctuary serves as the vibrant summer cathedral of Sozopol. Erected in 1889 by the legendary master builder Gencho Kanev of Tryavna, the church came to life thanks to the generous contributions of the newly established Bulgarian church community. A testament to this devotion was uncovered during the latest restoration: a hidden capsule beneath the holy altar table, safeguarding the original list of donors.

Architecturally, the structure boasts a striking three-nave, single-apse, cross-domed design, anchored by four free-standing pillars and featuring an exterior bell tower rising elegantly from the narthex. Kanev’s signature style shines through his masterful blend of Neoclassicism, highlighted by corner pilasters, triangular pediments, and a dome pierced by arched openings and embedded columns. Originally, the bell tower stood as a lightweight, four-sided structure crowned with a hemispherical dome—a silhouette that graced the Sozopol skyline until 1930.

https://sozopol-museums.bg/en/sozopol-churches/