The Bulgarian Church was built near the Golden Horn between the Streets of Ayvansaray and Mürsel Paşa. Because of nationalistic movements, it was built independently from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate by the Bulgarian minority of the Ottoman Empire who wanted to establish their own church, where they could practice their Orthodox faith.  After getting permission from the state to build a church, Bulgarians first built a priest house called “Metoh” on the other side of Mürsel Paşa Street. According to the inscription on the house which survived until present day, the construction was completed in 1850. After the house’s construction was completed, a small wooden church was temporarily built. It was later demolished and the current, larger church with an iron frame was built in its place. The construction plans were prepared by Hovsep Aznavur, an Armenian born in Istanbul. An international competition was organized to produce construction project. An Austrian firm, R. Ph. Wagner, won the competition. The structure was first produced in the factory garden and transported to Istanbul by ship through the Danube and the Black Sea. After one and a half years work, it was completed and inaugurated in 1898. The Bulgarian Church looks like a cross. The side naves are three meters long whilst the mid nave is six meter wide. And the neogothic and neobaroque style is seen on the architectural style of the building.  On the six bells of different sizes on the bell tower of the church, it writes that they were made in Russia for Bulgarian Church.