Constantine and Helena Church The Church of Sts. Constantine and Helena is one of only two remaining Bulgarian Orthodox churches in the city of Edirne. Completed in 1869, its construction was made possible by donations from communities originally hailing from Macedonia and Thrace. The structure showcases the distinctive elements of Orthodox architectural design from the 19th century and is built in the style of a three-nave pseudo-basilica. The main nave is moderately elevated, while the two side aisles are lower and conclude with a colonnade that helps support the roof. The eastern section of the church eventually served as the burial site for the metropolitan bishop of Edirne, who passed away in 1888. During a restoration project in 2008, his tombstone was moved to a new location near the main entrance of the church. Following the Second Balkan War in 1913, the Bulgarian population was expelled from the region by the Turks, leading to the church’s abandonment. However, in later years, the Bulgarian government reached an agreement with the Turkish authorities to begin its restoration. After decades of neglect, the church underwent a major renovation in 2008, with partial financial support from the Bulgarian government. If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to contact us at [email protected] or send us a message via Whatsapp. We’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.