The chapel was named after the patron of the Bulgarians, St.
Ivan Rilski. It was built with the assistance of the Bulgarian Antarctic scientific team, whose research season lasts from the beginning of the winter until the beginning of spring in the
Northern Hemisphere. During this time, the base employs a total of between 12 and 15 people, geologists, biologists, doctors, meteorologists, botanists and others. The three
foundation stones of the 3.5 by 3.5 m building were laid on 9 December 2001 by deacon Lyubomir Bratoev, The chapel was shipped in pieces totaling three cubic meters and three tons, via a Spanish ship. The completed chapel was consecrated on 9 February 2003. The chapel’s
bell was donated by Nikola Vasilev, ex-Vice Premier of Bulgaria who worked as a doctor at the Bulgarian base in the 1993/94 season, while the
roof cross was donated by the Bulgarian artist Dicho Kapushev. The chapel features an
icon of
Jesus Christ the Bridegroom by the Bulgarian artist Georgi Dimov, and an icon of
St. Ivan Rilski donated by President
Georgi Parvanov of Bulgaria, who visited and lit a candle in the chapel on 15 January 2005. St. Ivan Rilski Chapel was provided with new premises in the 2011/2012 season, situated on the northeast slopes of
Pesyakov Hill nearer to the main buildings of the Bulgarian base. == Gallery ==