St. George the Victorious Chapel-Mausoleum

Cultural Monument of National Significance

During the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation (1877–1878), the city of Pleven became the centre of the longest and most dramatic battles of the war, known in history as the Pleven Epopee of 1877. After five months of fierce fighting, victory was achieved at the cost of 31,000 killed and wounded soldiers and officers of the multinational Russian Imperial Army and 4,500 Romanian casualties.

To commemorate the heroes of the Pleven Epopee, the Tsar Liberator Alexander II Committee decided to build a chapel-mausoleum in Pleven. In 1903, an architectural competition was announced for its design. Although no first prize was awarded, the second prize was won by architect Pencho Koychev with a project entitled “Tsar Liberator”.

On 24 April 1903, the foundation stone of the mausoleum was laid in a solemn ceremony. Construction cost 300,000 golden leva, financed through public donations and state funds. The St. George the Victorious Chapel-Mausoleum was officially inaugurated on 16 September 1907. Among those attending the ceremony were Prince Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia, Bulgarian statesmen, public figures, and veterans of the war.

The mausoleum is an outstanding historical and architectural monument, built in the traditional Bulgarian ecclesiastical style with elements of Byzantine architecture.

The building has a central dome rising 24 metres high and topped with an openwork iron cross. On the northern and southern sides of the mausoleum are granite memorial plaques bearing the names of the Russian and Romanian regiments, the names of the officers, and the number of soldiers who fell during the Battles of Pleven. The surrounding fence is constructed of massive dressed stone blocks and decorated with cannonballs and artillery shells. Sixteen 6- and 8-inch Russian siege mortars are mounted on its pillars.

The Eternal Flame was lit to mark the 90th anniversary of the Liberation of Bulgaria.

The entrance door was carved by Professor Jan Travnicki. Above the entrance, the lunette features the high-relief “St. George the Victorious”, created by sculptor Zheko Spiridonov.

The iconostasis is a masterpiece of woodcarving and icon painting, crafted by Professor Jan Travnicki. The icons were painted by the renowned Bulgarian artists Professor Anton Mitov and Professor Ivan Mrkvička. To the left of the Royal Doors are “The Virgin and Child” and “St. George the Victorious” by Professor Ivan Mrkvička. To the right are “Jesus Christ” and “St. Alexander Nevsky” by Professor Anton Mitov.

The vaults of the church are adorned with finely crafted plaster cherub heads created by sculptor Professor Marin Vasilev.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Liberation of Pleven, the walls of the church were decorated with frescoes painted in the buon fresco technique by artist Ivan Kozhuharov.

Beneath the church, in the crypt, stand three marble sarcophagi containing the remains of fallen soldiers from the multinational Russian and Romanian armies. A St. George Cross for Bravery is embedded in a memorial ring inscribed with the words “Glory to You, Liberators”.

The St. George the Victorious Chapel-Mausoleum permanently transformed the appearance of Pleven and has become the city’s emblem and most recognizable symbol.