site.btaRestored Bishop's Basilica of Philippopolis Officially Opens Five Years Ago

The restored Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis was officially opened in Plovdiv five years ago on this date. Its restoration and the excavation of the archaeological site were carried out through a public-private partnership established in 2015 between Plovdiv Municipality and the America for Bulgaria Foundation. The ribbon was cut by then Plovdiv Mayor Zdravko Dimitrov, America for Bulgaria Foundation President Nancy Schiller, US Ambassador to Bulgaria Herro Mustafa, and Ancient Plovdiv Municipal Institute head Bogomil Grozev.

The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis is a three-nave, single-apse building, impressively large in size, with rich interior architectural design. Its length is 82.80 m and its width is 36 m, which makes it the largest basilica building from the 4th–6th century in Bulgaria and one of the largest on the Balkans. The floors of the basilica are covered with two layers of multicoloured mosaics, depicting complex geometric compositions, flowers, plants and birds. Each bird, rosette and meander is the result of great artistry, hours of work and years of experience. It functioned from the middle of the 4th century to the end of the 6th century.

The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis is a monument of high historical, artistic and scientific value. It is included in the UNESCO Tentative List for Cultural and Natural Heritage as part of the serial property "Bishop’s Basilica and Late-Antique Mosaics of Philippopolis, Roman Province of Thrace".

BTA's English Service reported on April 18, 2021:

Bishop's Basilica Is Inaugurated in Plovdiv

Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria, April 18 (BTA) - The Bishop's Basilica of Philippopolis was inaugurated formally in Plovdiv on Sunday. Plovdiv Mayor Zdravko Dimitrov, America for Bulgaria Foundation President Nancy Schiller, US Ambassador Herro Mustafa and Bogomil Grozev, head of the Ancient Plovdiv Municipal Institute cut the ribbon. The restoration of the basilica and the exhibition of its unique archaeology are the work of longstanding public-private partnership between Plovdiv and the foundation.

Plovdiv Mayor Dimitrov underscored that thanks to the extensive work of archaeologists and restorers people can experience against its beauty and grandeur. Dimitrov thanked everyone who worked to make the Basilica part of modern-day Plovdiv.

The Mayor thanked the America for Bulgaria Foundation for the support and the partnership since 2015.

During her address,Ambassador Mustafa recited a popular Bulgarian poem and said that the basilica will bring many historical, cultural and economic benefits to Plovdiv.

"For years we have worked hand in hand and stone by stone in order to give new life to the Bishop's Basilica which will remain for the future generations," said Nancy Schiller.

The Bishop's Basilica will open to visitors from Monday, April 19.

The Basilica site was discovered during rescue archaeological excavations in 1982-1986. The total length of the Basilica is 82.80 m and its width is 36 m, which makes it the largest basilica dating from the IV-VI century in Bulgaria and one of the largest in the Balkans. The floors of the Bishop's Basilica of Philippopolis are covered with two layers of multicolored mosaics, with an area exceeding two thousand square meters. NV/PP