Bizarre 9th Century Seal with ‘Adult’ Baby Jesus, Virgin Mary Discovered in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska
A 9th century lead seal with a weird depiction of Jesus Christ alongside Virgin Mary has been discovered by archaeologists excavating an aristocrat’s mansion from the Early Middle Ages in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire at the…
80 Newly Found Dugouts Offer Glimpse into 9th Century Rural Life in First Bulgarian Empire
Archaeologists have discovered a 9th century AD village from the time of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680 – 1018 AD) near the town of Gradishte, Shumen District, in Northeast Bulgaria, with some 80 dugouts offering a glimpse into the life…
Bulgaria Marks 1155 Years since Adoption of Christianity as Official Religion by First Bulgarian Empire
Bulgaria and Bulgarian Orthodox Christians marked on Saturday, May 2, 2020, the 1155th anniversary since the formal adoption of Christianity as the official state religion back in 865 AD under the leadership of St. Knyaz Boris I Mihail (r. 852-889;…
Lava Flood from Eldgja’s Volcanic Eruption Helped Drive Iceland’s Conversion to Christianity, Interdisciplinary Study Finds
The eruption of the Eldgja volcano in Iceland in the 10th century AD caused a lava flood, and the apocalyptic natural calamity helped drive the conversion of the North Atlantic island’s early population to Christianity, new research has found.
Bulgaria’s Cabinet, Private Donors Contribute BGN 300,000 towards Restoration of 9th Century AD Great Basilica in Pliska
More than BGN 300,000 (app. EUR 150,000) have been contributed by the Bulgarian government and private donors for the ongoing archaeological restoration of the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD)…
Archaeologist Discovers Floor Mosaic from Ancient Roman City Augusta Traiana in Bulgaria’s Stara Zagora
A floor mosaic from the Ancient Roman city of Augusta Traiana has been discovered during rescue archaeological excavations in the southern Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora.
Bronze Age Discoveries Reveal Ancient Bulgar Capital Pliska Was Settled Much Earlier Than Middle Ages
Discoveries of a Bronze Age home and artifacts have revealed that the Ancient Bulgar city of Pliska in today’s Northeast Bulgaria, which was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018) in 680-893 AD, was settled much earlier than previously…
Archaeologists Find Large Stone Canal underneath 9th Century Great Basilica in Early Medieval Bulgarian Capital Pliska
A large underground drainage canal built of stone has been discovered during the latest rescue excavations of the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD.
Restoration of Great Basilica in Pliska Gets Catholic Church Donation to Mark 1150 Years of Bulgaria – Vatican Relations
The Catholic Church in Bulgaria has donated EUR 5,000 (app. EUR 10,000) for the ongoing archaeological restoration of the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD.
Thracian Shrine with Newly Discovered Roman Fortress Dates Back to Trojan War Period, Archaeologists Find
The Ancient Thracian rock shrine in the area known as Hasara near the town of Angel Voyvoda in Southern Bulgaria dates back to the end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age, i.e. roughly the period…
Bulgaria’s Adoption of Christianity
Bulgaria’s adoption of Christianity as the formal and only state religion took place in 864-865 AD under the leadership of Khan / Knyaz Boris I Mihail (r. 852-889; 893 AD). As a result of the successful reigns of Khan (or…
Archaeologists Find Roman Fortress, Early Christian Church at Prehistoric, Thracian Rock Shrine near Buglaria’s Angel Voyvoda
The ruins of an Ancient Roman fortress have been discovered by archaeologists at a prehistoric and later Ancient Thracian rock shrine near the town of Angel Voyvoda, Mineralni Bani Municipality, Haskovo District, in Southern Bulgaria.
Bulgaria’s National Museum of History Reintensifies Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Early Medieval Capital Pliska
The archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, has been reintensified by the National Museum of History in Sofia as of May 2016.
Bulgaria Marks 1151 Years since Adoption of Christianity as Official Religion by First Bulgarian Empire
Bulgaria and Bulgarian Orthodox Christians have celebrated the 1151st anniversary since the formal adoption of Christianity as the official state religion in 865 AD under the leadership of St. Knyaz Boris I Mihail (r. 852-889; 893 AD) during the First…
‘Christian Art from Bulgaria’ Exhibit Unveiled in Austria’s Klosterneuburg Monastery by National Museum of Archaeology in Sofia
The famous Klosterneuburg Monastery in Austria has hosted an exhibition entitled “Gloss of the East: Christian Art from Bulgaria” displaying artifacts from the collection of the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia.
Archaeologists Discover 10th Century Church, Coins Testifying about 1242 Tatar (Mongol) Invasion of Medieval Drastar in Bulgaria’s Silistra
A church from the 10th century, dozens of medieval graves, and coins testifying to the Tatar (Mongol) invasion of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396 AD) in 1242 AD have been discovered during rescue excavations of the medieval city of Drastar,…
Bulgaria’s Cabinet Allocates More Funding for Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Early Medieval Capital Pliska
Bulgaria’s Cabinet has allocated a total of BGN 770,000 (app. EUR 335,000) to the Ministry of Culture for completing the archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) Pliska
9th Century Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska to Be Restored by May 2016
Bulgaria’s National Museum of History in Sofia plans to complete the archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) Pliska by May 2015.
St. John the Baptist Relics Ended Up in Bulgaria’s Sozopol to Counterbalance Huge Ancient Apollo Statue and Temple, Archaeologist Hypothesizes
The establishment of an Early Christian monastery dedicated to St. John the Baptist with the saint’s relics in Bulgaria’s Black Sea resort town of Sozopol (known as Apollonia Pontica in ancient times) may have been motivated by the existence of…
Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry ‘Gives Back’ Authentic Materials for the Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Pliska Removed by the Ottomans
The archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire between 680 and 893 AD, will be continued used more authentic construction material that was removed from the temple by the Ottoman…
Bulgaria’s Varna to Turn Major 9th Century Monastery with Scriptorium from First Bulgarian Empire into Cultural Tourism Site
Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Varna has taken the first step to restore and promote as a cultural tourism site what apparently was one of the largest monasteries in the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) known as the Knyazheski (Royal)…
Archaeologists Find New Evidence Ottomans Used Materials from 9th Century Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Pliska for Railway Construction
Archaeologists and restorers from Bulgaria’s National Museum of History have identified construction materials from the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, which were scattered all over…
Bulgarian Museum Director Urges Revision of Wikipedia Article on Hagia Sophia over Great Basilica in Pliska
The Director of Bulgaria’s National Museum of History in Sofia has urged a revision of the Wikipedia article on the Hagia Sophia cathedral in Constantinople / Istanbul arguing that it was not Europe’s largest temple between the 6th and the…
Restorers Reuse Surviving Original Materials to Rebuild Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska
The archaeological restoration of the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, is being carried out by using surviving original materials, Bulgaria’s National Museum of History…
Bulgaria Begins Archaeological Restoration of 9th Century AD Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska
Bulgaria’s National Museum of History has begun the archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD.
Archaeologists Discover Oldest Church of Medieval City Drastar in Bulgaria’s Silistra
The ruins of what was the oldest Christian church from the period of the Middle Ages in the ancient and medieval city of Drastar (known as Durustorum in the Roman period) have been discovered during the continuing rescue excavations in…
Archaeologists Find New Fragments of Bulgaria’s Oldest Icon: 10th Century AD Ceramic Icon of St. Theodore Stratilates from Veliki Preslav
New fragments have been discovered from the earliest known Bulgarian-made icon – a ceramic icon of St. Theodore Stratilates dating back to the 10th century AD, the height of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) – and the icon itself…
Alleged Giant Phallus from Hermes Statue Found in Bulgaria’s Orehovo as Locals Rally to Defend Suspected Ancient Thracian Shrine
A find that is said to be a giant phallus which was part of a statue of god Hermes has been found at the mountain peak known as Koloto near the town of Orehovo, Chepelare Municipality, in Southern Bulgaria, which…
Locals in Bulgaria’s Orehovo Raise Alarm over Municipal Construction Project on Top of Alleged Ancient Thracian Mound, Shrine
Local residents of the town of Orehovo, Chepelare Municipality, in the Rhodope Mountains in Southern Bulgaria have launched protests against a municipal project for the construction of a fire safety tower which they believe lies on top of an Ancient…
Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska Modeled after Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Bulgarian Scholars Conclude
The 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the Ancient Bulgar capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, was modeled after the Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the predecessor of today’s St. Peter’s…
Bulgarian Archaeologists Reach Water in Holy Well in Great Basilica in Early Medieval Capital Pliska
Bulgarian archaeologists excavating the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire between 680 and 893 AD, have reached water inside the temple’s so called holy well, i.e. the sacred spring, also known with the…
Archaeologists Discover Grave of Bulgaria’s First Christian Martyr, Crown Prince St. Boyan Enravota
The archaeologists who have recently started the excavations of the Great Basilica in Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018) between 680 and 893 AD, have discovered the grave of St. Boyan Enravota, an heir to the throne who…
Archaeologists from Varna Museum of Archaeology to Excavate Further Kastritsi Fortress, Medieval Bulgarian Monastery
The archaeologists from the Varna Museum of Archaeology are about to start their annual summer excavations of the Late Antiquity Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian fortress of Kastritsi located on the Black Sea coast in the Bay of Varna.
Skeletons Found under Late Antiquity Fortress Wall of Odessos in Bulgaria’s Varna Were Buried in Early Christian Necropolis, Archaeologist Reveals
The four skeletons which were discovered in March 2015 under the newly found Late Antiquity fortress wall of the Ancient Thracian, Greek, and Roman city of Odessos (Odessus) in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Varna were buried in a small…
Bulgaria’s Cabinet Provides Major Funding for Excavations, Restoration of 5 Sites in Early Medieval Capital Pliska
Bulgaria’s Cabinet has allocated BGN 500,000 (app. EUR 255,000) for the archaeological excavation and restorations of five sites within the archaeological preserve of Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire between 680 and 893 AD, which features unique Ancient Bulgar…
