Description of the attraction
The Church of St. John the Baptist is the oldest in the city of Gabrovo. There are no written sources fixing the date of its construction, however, most likely, this happened in the 16th century. During a fire started in the city by the troops of the Ottoman Empire in 1798, the church was destroyed, but rebuilt in the spring of 1799.
In 1870, to the west of the church, a bell tower was built, from which a beautiful view of the city was opened. In June 1949 the bell tower of the church was demolished and a kindergarten "Republic" was built in its place. This was the first religious building destroyed by the "people's" government in the city of Gabrovo. Ten years later, in 1959, the Convent of the Annunciation in the city center was destroyed.
The Church of St. John the Baptist stands out for its hand-carved wooden iconostasis, created by the woodcarving master George in 1814.
Since October 4, 1932, a kindergarten and a nursery for poor parents (for 35 children) have been organized at the church. The temple has always been famous for its monetary donations to the schools of Gabrovo. This tradition is maintained to this day by the rector of the church and his colleagues. After the liturgy, hot food and milk are also distributed to old and poor parishioners.
