“Maiden from Sofia”

This drawing is inspired after the legend of St. Sofia, who was the daughter of emperor Justinian and whose name was given to the capitol of Bulgaria – Sofia. As a young maiden, Sofia was very ill. The emperor’s doctor recommended that Sofia be taken to live in a place with healthy climate and pure water springs. Justinian traveled with his men through the Balkan Mountains and finally discovered the city, which was later to be named Sofia. There, the maiden was cured … and grew tall and beautiful. In return for her daughter’s cure, the tzar built a church in the name of St. Sofia.