Russian Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker

The Russian Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker stands on bul. Tsar Osvoboditel near ul. Moskovska in central Sofia, Bulgaria, and is one of the city's most photogenic churches. It was built in the early twentieth century for the Russian diplomatic community in the Neo-Russian style, with a steep pitched roof, a tall bell tower and golden onion-shaped domes that glow in morning light. The church is dedicated to St Nicholas and also holds the tomb of Archbishop Serafim, a Russian church leader who lived in Sofia, in its crypt. The interior is small and intimate, with a richly painted ceiling, murals and gilded icons, and the atmosphere is calmer than at larger cathedrals. It remains an active place of worship, so visitors should be quiet and respectful, with modest dress and phones silenced. The visit is short, fifteen to twenty minutes, and entry is free, with candles sold inside. The best photographs are of the exterior from the pavement along bul. Tsar Osvoboditel and from the small park beside the church, where the domes catch the sun. Morning light is best, and the park gives some shade in summer. Crowds are small throughout the day, though services and weddings can briefly limit access. The church sits between the Sofia University area and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral route, so most visitors include it on a walking tour of the centre along the yellow-brick road toward the cathedral, passing the Parliament and the Monument to the Tsar Liberator on the way.