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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Church of St. George the Victorious

Church of St. George the Victorious

in the central part of the Giurgiu district of Sapareva Banya

RELIGIONS Orthodox

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE

DESCRIPTION
The Revival church "St. Georgi Pobedonosets "is located in the central part of the Giurgiu district of Sapareva Banya.
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
The ancient church was built in the period 1839-1840, making it the first Revival temple in the historical-geographic area of ​​Gorno Pole. Traditionally, it has been erected in the place of an old quarter. Its master builder is Tzvetko from the village of Zhablyano, Radomir, which is understood by an inscription on the pediment on the western side of the temple: "1840 the world-wide Georgian man, Master Tsvetko of Jabbler, Radomir kaasa."
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE
There is an interesting detail around the building of the church. It was built with materials (stones and trees), which were originally designed for the construction of a temple in the village of Banya (today Sapareva Banya), to the old church "St. Nicholas ". But since this place was inhabited by Turkish houses, then the local (Turkish) government resisted the desire of the Bulgarian population to have an active Christian temple in the village. Instead, the Turks allowed the temple to be built in the neighboring village of Matsukurovo (Giurgiu), and for this purpose they used the influence of the wealthy gurgeian chorbadji Marinko and Damian.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
There was a fierce disagreement between the Macekurev and Banchan, but ultimately prevailed over the will of the rulers. Banya acquired its own temple only in 1859, when Bancheni built the church "St. Forty martyrs "on an old cornice bearing the same name. The building is half-dug in the ground, according to the requirements of the Ottoman rule - the Christian temple is not higher than the Muslim fist, riding a horse. The building is massive, with stones, bonded with mortar. The entire facade is plastered, and the roof is doubled, covered with tiles. The church has two entrances - from the west (the main one) and the south side. A magnificent wood-carved iconostasis shines inside the temple, which is one of the first works of the local carver Kote Gujian (1820-1910). The altar icons in it are distinguished by exquisite shape and good color. Among them is the icon of St. St. Peter and Paul, dated to 1839. Even with the entrance to the temple, the visitor's attention is borne out by the frescoes in the open narthex, which include an image of St. Georgi, killing the lamella (in the patron niche above the door), the complex composition "The Wonder Court" (to the left of the entrance) and nine scenes from the saint's life. Below these scenes, according to the canon, compositions are depicted in the folkloric stories: "wrong denomination," "the witch," "thieves and goats," etc. No less expressive and original are the frescoes in the naos.
HOW TO USE WITH THE STUDENTS
The students need to visit the church to get to know the Bulgarian art and history.
CONNECTION WITH OTHER RELIGIOUS SITES

Church of St Nicholas, Sapareva Banya - southwestern Bulgarian town of Sapareva Banya, part of Kyustendil Province

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.