The Plovdiv Municipal Council voted on Thursday to request the transfer of management authority for the Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis from the Culture Ministry. Currently, the basilica operates under a co-ownership arrangement, with the Plovdiv Municipality holding a 55.8% stake and the State owning the remaining 44.2%. According to the Municipal Council, assuming direct management control will enable the Municipality to enhance efforts in protecting, maintaining, and executing activities related to the preservation of this significant immovable cultural asset.
The decision emphasized that this transfer would facilitate the implementation of scientific, cultural, educational, and tourism-related initiatives. The Council stated that the Municipality possesses a defined strategy for the protection, preservation, exhibition, and promotion of the area’s cultural and historical heritage. The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis is recognized for its considerable historical, artistic, and scientific value.
Furthermore, it is listed on the UNESCO Tentative List for Cultural and Natural Heritage as part of the serial property known as the “Bishop’s Basilica and Late-Antique Mosaics of Philippopolis, Roman Province of Thrace.”
This move, supported by the local governing body, aims to consolidate management efforts under the municipal structure. The request seeks to streamline the administration of the basilica, ensuring that its ongoing conservation and utilization for cultural purposes can proceed with greater autonomy and focus from the municipal level.
Topics: #municipal #council #basilica
