Our Lady of the Rosary in the Cathedral of San José de Sofia

Marian Advocation of Sofia (Sofia)
Recognized by the Church

The first church of San José in Sofia, built in the 19th century, was destroyed by the bombing of World War II. The new cathedral of San José was rebuilt and consecrated in 2006, as a sign of the rebirth of the small Bulgarian Catholic community after communism. It is the cathedral of the Latin bishop of Sofia-Plovdiv and the main Catholic temple of the capital.

Main data

Origin and history

The first church of San José in Sofia, built in the 19th century, was destroyed by the bombing of World War II. The new cathedral of San José was rebuilt and consecrated in 2006, as a sign of the rebirth of the small Bulgarian Catholic community after communism. It is the cathedral of the Latin bishop of Sofia-Plovdiv and the main Catholic temple of the capital.

The image and the sanctuary

Aunque la titularidad del templo es de san José, la catedral acoge las principales celebraciones marianas diocesanas siguiendo el calendario romano. No consta una advocación mariana propia singularizada para este templo (del tipo «Madre de Dios de Sofía») ni una imagen con culto destacado específico.

Sponsorship and coronation

There is no Marian patronage or canonical coronation linked to this cathedral.

Party and devotion

The Marian festivals of the Roman calendar (Immaculate, Nativity of the Virgin, Our Lady of the Rosary) are held on an ordinary basis, without the rank of national Marian sanctuary. During Pope Francis's visit in 2019, the Catholic community of Sofia was prepared with intense prayer, and the faithful prayed the rosary for the renewal of the Church in Bulgaria.

Link to the Rosary

The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is among the diocesan Marian celebrations that host the cathedral. The prayer of the rosary was, according to the chronicles, one of the most visible expressions of faith of this minority community on the occasion of the 2019 papal visit.