SHIPKA MEMORIAL CHURCH
SHIPKA MEMORIAL CHURCH
The Shipka Memorial Church is a Bulgarian Orthodox church built near the town of Shipka in Stara Planina between 1885 and 1902 in seventeenth century Russian style.
It is, together with the other parts of the Shipka Monument complex, dedicated to the Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers that died for the liberation of Bulgaria in the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78.
The construction began in 1885 and was officially opened on 28 September 1902 in the presence of Russian Army generals and many honourable guests.
The church's bell tower reaches a height of 53 m and its bells, the heaviest of which weighs 12 tons, were cast from the cartridges that were collected after the battles. In the temple itself, the names of the Russian regiments and Bulgarian volunteers are inscribed on 24 marble plates.
The remains of the perished are laid in 17 stone sarcophagi in the church's crypt.
