Historic Landmark
Church St. Mary

In one of the most poetic and beautiful cities in Bulgaria - Koprivshtica , is the Orthodox Church "St. Mary " . Interesting story of its foundation. From the historical evidence , come to us, it is known that over 200 Koprivshtitsa collected money to build a church in response to the needs of the local population . Tradition says that the church building was completed in 11 days . It was then obtained permission from the Turkish ayans " only under the influence of certain special events ." In the construction of the Orthodox Church participated Bulgarian masters of Smolsko and Mirkovo . Only two decades later, the church can no longer serve the needs of Koprivshtitza and in 1836 the cemetery have been removed from the temple courtyard . Three years later , local authorities decided to build a new church - "St. Nicholas " .

In the courtyard of the church "St. Mary " were buried many Koprivshtitsa . Here rest have found many prominent Bulgarians , including Dimtcho Debelyanov poet , Evtimij Sapundjiev , Nencho Palaveev, politician Rashko Madjarov and partizaninat Ivan Vrachev . Earlier the temple there were 98 wholly or partially preserved tombstones from 1762-1874 Today six large plates from 1829 to 1874 , the raised from their graves , which once covered , stand propped on one of the fences .

Valuable landmark church is preserved only in manuscript Gospel of 1644 .

The church "St. Mary " is restored. The current building is the basilica , partly dug into the ground. On the outer wall of the narthex has its lettering from July 8, 1817 Belfry in 1892 are remarkable iconostasis ( 1821 ) , painted by the painter of the Samokov art school Zacharias Zograph icons of St. George ( 1837 ) , St Eustatius ( 1838 ) and the Assumption ( 1838 ) and the icon of St. Ivan Rilski ( 1838 ) by Jovan painter, teacher and father is the painter Nicolas Obrazopisov . Iconostasis icons rusiva between 1893 and 1913 born Galichnik Ivan Georgiev Spaovski . The frescoes in the altar are the work of painter Samokov Spas Zachariev (1900) .

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