Нови храмове и параклиси в София в постсоциалистическия период. Етнографски наблюдения
New temples and shrines in Sofia in the postsocialist period. Ethnographic observations

Summary/Abstract: In the present paper some of the Orthodox temples built in Sofia after November 10, 1989 are discussed. The motives and the process of their creation along with the architecture of the new cultural buildings are in the focus of attention as well as the extent to which the tradition of donation is sill preserved. The research is based mostly on personal field work and inter¬viewed carried by the author. Media material is also used. In the last years in the Sofia eparchy there were over 50 thousands temples and shrines built. The imitative for their erection came from laity and Sofia municipalities. In contrast to the past when the Orthodox temples were built on “holy ground”, today, the choice for building a church is often too pragmatic. In most cases these are plots of land granted from the Sofia municipality with the right to build or purchased by persons initiating the creation of the temple. Many of the newly built temples in Sofia are erected with the donations of big companies and rich businessmen known in public. Today shrines are erected in the public building in Sofia – in hospitals, in the Central Station, in the Bulgarian national radio, as well as on sport stadiums. In many neighborhoods temples were built on the initiative of separate individuals. The big attendance of the new temple in Sofia, as well the social activities underway indicate that their construction was necessary and expected.

• Details
• Contents