St. Ivan Rilski Chapel

The St. Ivan Rilski Chapel (St. John of Rila Chapel, Bulgarian: Параклис Свети Иван Рилски) at the Bulgarian base St. Kliment Ohridski on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands is the first Eastern Orthodox edifice in Antarctica, and the southernmost Eastern Orthodox building of worship in the world (cf. Trinity Church, Antarctica). The three foundation stones of the 3.5 by 3.5m building were laid on 9 December 2001 by Protodeacon Lyubomir Bratoev, and the completed Chapel was consecrated on 9 February 2003.

The Chapel’s bell was donated by Nikola Vasilev, ex-Vice Premier of Bulgaria who worked as a doctor at the Bulgarian base in the 1993/94 season, while the roof cross was donated by the Bulgarian artist Dicho Kapushev. The Chapel features an icon of Jesus Christ the Bridegroom by the Bulgarian artist Georgi Dimov, and an icon of St. Ivan Rilski donated by President Georgi Parvanov of Bulgaria who visited and lit a candle in the Chapel on 15 January 2005.

See also

• St. Kliment Ohridski Base
• Religion in Antarctica
• Trinity Church, Antarctica

References

• The project for the first Eastern Orthodox chapel in Antarctica is ready. Church Gazette. 16-30 April 2002. (in Bulgarian)
• Penguins open Bulgaria’s EU bid. Sofia Echo, 30 January 2003.
• Consecrating the Bulgarian chapel in Antarctica. Standard News Daily. 9 February 2003. (in Bulgarian)
• Creations by the icon painter Georgi Dimov even at the South Pole. Sega Daily, 22 February 2003. (in Bulgarian)
• The Head of State visited the Bulgarian base St. Kliment Ohridski. Presidential website, 15 January 2005. (in Bulgarian)