Visit of guests from Norway to the town of Sozopol

On June 15 and 16 2016, H.E. Guro Katharina H. Vikør – Ambassador of Norway in the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Carsten Paludan-Müller – Director General of the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research, and Mr. Inge Lindblom – Head of Department “Heritage and Society” at the Institute were on a visit to Sozopol. They were welcomed by the Chairman of Sozopol Foundation, Mr. Kiril Arnautski. During the visit, the guests visited:

Panoramic photo of the complex from the sea Photo of the complex with spectacular lighting

Panoramic photo from the hall of Apollo Chapel of Sts. Kirik and Yulita

St. Ivan Island and Monastery of St John, where parts of the relics of John the Baptist were discovered, under a project, executed by Sozopol Foundation in the period 2009 – 2011

H.E. Guro Katharina Helvik Vikør, Mr. Carsten Paludan-Müller and
Mr. Inge Lindblom on the way to the island of St. Ivan

Mr. Carsten Paludan-Müller and Mr. Inge Lindblom taking pictures,
inspired by the beautiful view in the aquatory of Sozopol

Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius and relics of John the Baptist

Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius
The discovered relics of John the Baptist

Archaeological Museum of Sozopol

Central entrance of the Archaeological Museum View towards the main hall

Cape Skamni, where the guests observed the ongoing archaeological studies with supervisor Assoc. Prof. Krustina Panayotova

Assoc. Prof. Krustina Panayotova informed H.E. Guro Katharina Helvik Vikør
about the conducted archaeological research at Cape Skamni

After visiting Sozopol, guests from the Kingdom of Norway wrote down their impressions in the guestbook of Sozopol Foundation:

Dear Kiril!

Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity for the wonderful visit to the town of Sozopol and at Sozopol Foundation. This is my favourite place in Bulgaria, which is beautiful country with beautiful people.

GURO KATHARINA HELVIK VIKØR
Ambassador of Norway in Bulgaria
Sozopol 16.VI.16

Dear Kiril!

Thank you so much for having shared this marvelous historic place with us.

The many layers of history that you are so diligently bringing back are impressive and beyond doubt a huge resource for the local community, the region and for the entire country.

We wish you all of success with this impressive project.

CARSTEN PALUDAN-MÜLLER
Director General
Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research

INGE LINDBLOM
Head of Department „Heritage and Society”
Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research