Price: Bulgarian medieval church "St. Nichola" is located in the old cemetery of the village of Saparevo, Sapareva banya. It was declared a monument of national importance , but every day the weather crumble it . From small volume preserved parts of the building and its murals can be concluded that one time the cemetery church belonged to the famous churches in western Bulgaria .
The Orthodox Church has two construction periods . The first building represented a small nave and apse building. It probably was built in the XIV-XV centuries. Presumably it was destroyed in 1668 during the campaigns of - the 19th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire , Mehmed IV. In 1676 a priest who came from Thessaloniki pop Peter takes on the difficult task to rebuild the temple. So "St. Nicholas " is not only built but was extended and by keeping the old apse , and the floor was dug about a meter into the ground. This church also has a nave and narthex open cylindrical vault. It burned down in 1950 , and survived the fire just east wall of the apse and the prothesis niche formed in Constantinople arch . The remaining walls are partially preserved . Preserved part of the church was placed under the roof, which is now collapsed .
One time the entire interior of the church "St. Nicholas " was written . After the fire , however, the murals are severely damaged , and the colors - changed. In the apse niche after the fire, keep the following scene : Mary enthroned with Christ - child and archangels Eucharist Melismos , Pieta . Now - due to the collapse of the protective roof frescoes exposed to direct weathering and gradually destroyed.
Despite the dire state in which is located the temple worshipers regularly attend worship ruins her They put icons and candles and celebrate the larger celebrations in the church calendar .
The Orthodox Church " St. Nichola " is dedicated to Saint Nichola ( 270-343 ) . He was iztochnorimski cleric , Bishop of Myra, a city of Lycia. Lifetime Nichola is known as an opponent of Arianism and paganism . After his death was worshiped as the patron saint of sailors and merchants. Today his relics are kept in Bari, Italy.
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