Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria, April 18 (BTA) - The Bishop's
Basilica of Philippopolis was inaugurated formally in Plovdiv on
 Sunday. Plovdiv Mayor Zdravko Dimitrov, America for Bulgaria
Foundation President Nancy Schiller, US Ambassador Herro Mustafa
 and Bogomil Grozev, head of the Ancient Plovdiv Municipal
Institute cut the ribbon. The restoration of the basilica and
the exhibition of its unique archaeology are the work of
longstanding public-private partnership between Plovdiv and the
foundation.

Plovdiv Mayor Dimitrov underscored that thanks to the extensive
work of archaeologists and restorers people can experience
against its beauty and grandeur. Dimitrov thanked everyone who
worked to make the Basilica part of modern-day Plovdiv.

The Mayor thanked the America for Bulgaria Foundation for the
support and the partnership since 2015.

During her address,Ambassador Mustafa recited a popular
Bulgarian poem and said that the basilica will bring many
historical, cultural and economic benefits to Plovdiv.

"For years we have worked hand in hand and stone by stone in
order to give new life to the Bishop's Basilica which will
remain for the future generations," said Nancy Schiller.

The Bishop's Basilica will open to visitors from Monday, April
19.

The Basilica site was discovered during rescue archaeological
excavations in 1982-1986. The total length of the Basilica is
82.80 m and its width is 36 m, which makes it the largest
basilica dating from the IV-VI century in Bulgaria and one of
the largest in the Balkans.  The floors of the BishopТs Basilica
 of Philippopolis are covered with two layers of multicolored
mosaics, with an area exceeding two thousand square meters.
NV/PP