Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, Bulgaria

All projectsAlexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia

REBIRTH IN LIGHT

Germany

Rising majestically in the heart of Sofia, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is more than just an architectural masterpiece—it’s a symbol of Bulgaria’s resilience and gratitude. Built to honour the Russian soldiers who fought for Bulgaria’s liberation during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, this breathtaking cathedral stands as one of the largest Eastern Orthodox churches in the world. Its imposing presence, crowned by a striking gold-plated dome, dominates the city’s skyline, while its grand interior welcomes thousands of visitors into a realm of spiritual and artistic splendour.

Designed in a Neo-Byzantine style, the cathedral exudes an air of timelessness despite being relatively modern, completed in 1912. Every detail of its construction speaks of international craftsmanship—marble from Munich, metalwork from Berlin, and exquisite mosaics from Venice. Twelve powerful bells, weighing a total of 23 tons, ring out across Sofia, with the largest bell’s chime resonating up to 30 kilometers away on a clear day.

Year

2025

Location

Sofia, Bulgaria

Lighting design

Balkantrade Lighting Studio Synthesis

Lighting concept, design and installation

Balkantrade Lighting Studio Synthesis

Pictures

Andrey Rashev

The cathedral’s Neo-Byzantine style is immediately recognizable by its towering gold-plated central dome and multiple smaller domes arranged in a harmonious composition. Arched windows all around the church and porticos on the main façade add layers of detail to the structure, while its pale stone walls and domes with greenish patina create a dramatic visual contrast. The overall design conveys both grandeur and elegance, reflecting a blend of Eastern Orthodox tradition and architectural craftsmanship.

Located at the heart of a spacious oval square, surrounded by functional street lighting, the cathedral required a new illumination system that would highlight its character without flattening its architectural depth or distorting its rich colors, replacing the previous dim, amber lighting. Given that the central gold-plated dome rises 45 meters and the bell tower 53 meters — and with no wall-mounting permitted — powerful yet unobtrusive long-throw LED lighting fixtures were essential to revamp the cathedral from a distance.

Specified and installed by our preferred partner in Bulgaria, Balkantrade Lighting Studio Synthesis, 88 Capital 300 fixtures in 3000K white—equipped with medium optics and fitted with either beehive antiglare filters or visors to better direct light and minimize glare—were mounted on dedicated poles outlining the oval square. To illuminate the highest parts of the building, an additional 12 units of CAPITAL 300 US and 13 ONYX XQ, both with ultra-spot optics and the same colour temperature, complete the lighting scheme designed by Balkantrade Lighting Studio Synthesis. The powerful beams from this carefully selected combination of models envelop the cathedral in a well-diffused glow, preserving its architectural depth while magnificently enhancing its shape, texture, and colours.

The stunning pictures and video, taken by Andrey Rashev, perfectly capture the cathedral’s new nighttime identity, highlighting how the illumination preserves its architectural character and artistic magnificence.

Products installed:
88x CAPITAL 300 3000K WARM WHITE MEDIUM OPTICS DALI
13x ONYX XQ 3000K WARM WHITE ULTRA SPOT OPTICS
12x CAPITAL 300 US 3000K WARM WHITE ULTRA SPOT OPTICS DALI
32x BEEHIVE ANTIGLARE FOR CAPITAL 300
51x VISOR FOR CAPITAL 300

Credits:
Lighting Design: Balkantrade Lighting Studio Synthesis - Sofia, Bulgaria
Product supply and installation: Balkantrade Lighting Studio Synthesis
Pictures and video: Andrey Rashev