Price: The church "St. Petka" in the village of Belchin late medieval Orthodox church . It is dedicated to St Petka Bulgarian Epivatska who lived through the X-XI centuries. To fall under Ottoman rule her relics are kept in the church "St. Petka of Tarnovo "in Veliko Tarnovo , but after centuries of wandering from 1641 are kept in the cathedral in the city of Iasi , northern Romania .
"St. Petka "is a one-nave church cemetery with semi-cylindrical vault and gable roof. It was built in his last appearance in the XVII century on the foundations of an older church from XIII-XIV century. Extremely valuable in the church are its icons , which are rare art pieces . Significantly longer original icons are stored elsewhere in the country , including the crypt of the church ' St. Alexander Nevsky . " On September 27, 2007 in "St. Petka " already returned the original icons. Less than a month later restored church was consecrated by Bishop John Znepol , Sofia vicar .
A curious moment in the history of the Orthodox Church is the fact that he survived through the difficult years of unrest in the Ottoman Empire. Then common practice of Orthodox churches and monasteries to be robbed, devastated and burnt . It is known that the church was painted inside , unfortunately, after the complete reconstruction of the building mural and icon decoration not preserved . Traces of early pictorial decoration were discovered after excavations in 2007
In the church are preserved many valuable icons. The oldest of them were written in the 50s of XVII. Both the original main altar icons - of Christ and the Virgin Mary for many years kept in the crypt of the church ' St. Alexander Nevsky . " Particularly noteworthy are the icons " Jesus on a throne with the apostles " ( 1653 ) , " Madonna and Child Enthroned with prophets " ( 1653 ) , " St. Nicholas " (XVII century), " Three Hierarchs " (XVII century) and others. The iconostasis (XVII-XIX century) is one of the important monuments of monumental carving . It contains multitemporal threads studded with floral motifs , acanthus leaves, willy , vine leaves , dragons and birds.
Like many temples in the country , "St. Petka " in the village of Belchin became subject to vandalism . In the period 1991-2005 looters leaky roof of the temple and dug around the royal throne. The church was left in ruins by the launch of its overall restoration in 2006. Restoration of "St. Petka" is implemented on the initiative of donors - developer Simeon Peshov native Belchin , and his two sons , the Foundation " Renaissance Belchin " church board of the temple and with the support of " Glavbolgarstroi ." The entranceway is now formed in ethnostyle entirely of wood. Along with the restoration, near the temple was built and ethnographic complex.
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