The newly built Surb Astvatsatsin Armenian church in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia served its first mass on Sunday, June 12, Orer Armenian European Magazine reports.

The spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Sofia, Father Gusan Hadavyan served the mass in the church whose construction began in 2006.

The church was built and opened thanks to the work of donors, the church board and young Armenians, and the process was facilitated by the Municipality of Sofia and the country's Directorate for Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers.

According to preliminary information, the official opening and consecration of the church will take place in September.