Sofia Theological Seminary St John of Rila

Overview

Sofia Theological Seminary "St. John of Rila ” is the main seminary of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It is the successor of the former Samokov Theological Seminary, founded in 1876 by free donations, in addition to the fund bequeathed to his hometown by Metropolitan Auxentius of Veles. Later the school moved to Sofia.

In 1902 the construction of a separate building of the seminary in Sofia under the rule of Prince Ferdinand I of Bulgaria began. It was designed by Friedrich Grunanger, and completed in 1905.

On January 20, 1903, classes began at the seminary. The course of study was six years, and graduates received a certificate entitling them to continue their studies at university or to be ordained priests.

During the Balkan Wars and the First World War, the boarding house of the seminary was used as a military hospital. During the agricultural regime (1920-23), the buildings were also used by the newly opened Faculty of Agriculture at Sofia University. At the end of the Second World War the buildings were used as a headquarters of the Red Army, and after the end of the war - until 1950, by the Union for Bulgarian-Soviet Friendship.

On September 20, 1950, the seminary was moved to Cherepish, near the Cherepish Monastery, and the building was turned into Pioneers’ Palace for children. The building was returned to the Seminary by Ministerial Decree in 1990.

Over the years education at the Sofia Seminary has followed the spirit and traditions of the Orthodox values, despite the difficulties during the wars and the years of atheism.