New icons have been installed in the old chapel of Bulgaria’s Antarctic research station, the Bulgarian Antarctic Base St. Kliment Ohridski, as part of a restoration project aimed at preserving spiritual and cultural heritage on the icy continent.

According to the Bulgarian News Agency, the chapel has been adorned with newly painted icons created by Bulgarian iconographer Ganka Pavlova. The artworks depict the Virgin Mary and Child, St. Ivan Rilski — the patron saint of the base — and St. Nicholas, revered as the protector of travelers.

Pavlova said the images were inspired by the medieval frescoes of the Boyana Church, one of the most celebrated monuments of medieval Bulgarian art located near Sofia. In addition to the icons, photographs of the historic church and informational texts in Bulgarian and English have been placed inside the chapel.

The project was conceived not only as an artistic renovation but also as a cultural initiative to introduce international visitors to the station to the history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the country’s longstanding tradition of mural painting.

The Antarctic base now has two functioning chapels: a newly built chapel decorated on-site over several Antarctic seasons, and the restored older chapel, which has been revitalized to continue serving the station’s community.