Bulgarian Church Of George Sweti

Edirne stands in a very important place in Ottoman history. For this reason, many works from the Ottoman period add a distinct value to the city. The Church of Sweti George is also one of these structures. As it is known, the Ottoman Empire included many minority groups. Bulgarians were also among the leading minority groups. The Church of Sweti George is popularly known as the “Bulgarian Church”. A bell tower rises at the grand entrance door of the church, which is built in the Renaissance style. The church has three naves and the area it covers is 320 square meters. The Bulgarian Church of Sweti George consists of cut stones and bricks. The interior space is colored with different icons. After the Balkan Wars, The Congregation of the church naturally declined. This indifference causes it to fall into disrepair over time. The Bulgarian Church of Sweti George was adversely affected by the seasonal conditions and demolished to a certain extent in 1951. The church, which was turned into a ruin, underwent an extensive repair process in 2004. In this way, it is reintroduced to worship in the same year. The construction of the church corresponds to April 23, 1880. That year, a special permit was obtained from Sultan Abdulhamid for the construction of the building. On top of that, the construction process takes quite a short time, contrary to what is expected. Between the church and the Selimiye Mosque, there is only a distance of 950 meters. This way you can visit the Bulgarian Church of Sweti George after a short walk after visiting the Selimiye Mosque. The church is open to visitors between 09.00 in the morning and 17.00 in the evening. The Church of Sweti George has been able to respond to this need considerably since there was no special church belonging to Catholics and Protestants in the past. In those years, there are even some who come from Bulgaria for special rituals.