The Plovdiv Municipal Council voted on Thursday to request the transfer of management of 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%. The Municipal Council stated that assuming direct management will enable the municipality to enhance its efforts in protecting, maintaining, and executing activities related to the preservation of this significant immovable cultural asset.
Furthermore, this change is intended to facilitate the implementation of scientific, cultural, educational, and tourist initiatives at the site. The Council emphasized 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 as a monument of substantial historical, artistic, and scientific merit.
Its importance is underscored by its inclusion on the UNESCO Tentative List for Cultural and Natural Heritage, specifically as part of the serial property titled “Bishop’s Basilica and Late-Antique Mosaics of Philippopolis, Roman Province of Thrace.”
This proposed management shift, initiated by the local council, aims to consolidate authority to ensure comprehensive stewardship of the valuable basilica.
Topics: #municipal #council #basilica
