The Russian church

The temple is located in the beginning of the pass of Shipka, near to the village of Shipka, in the southern sides of
the Balkan range. It is designed by the Russian architect A.I.Tomishko in memory of the Russian soldiers and Bulgarian
volunteers perished in the Russian - Turkish Liberation war. Constructed with the financial support of the Russians
on a land, donated by the residents of the Shipka village, it represents the style of the Russian church architecture
from XVIII century. The monument is spectacular with its gold-plated cupolas, the picturesque ornamentation
of the faзade. It has 34 marble slab stones with the names of the fallen heroes engraved. There are also 17 marble
sarcophagi which keep the bones of the dead warriors. In the imposing church tower you could see a 12 tons weighty
bell and 16 smaller ones. The icons and frescoes are created by Bulgarian and Russian painters.
They depicted many historical characters such as Cyril and Methodius, creators of the Bulgarian literacy;
the Russian prince Vladimir, etc.

The temple is easy of access and is opened for thousands of tourists every day.

Source: visit.bg