Description of the attraction
The Church of Light Petka Stara is an Orthodox church in the capital of Bulgaria, the city of Sofia. The church was built in the 13th century. In terms of its exterior, the temple is stylistically combined with the antique palace complex of Emperor Constantine I (the buildings at that time served as the residence of the Bulgarian Tsar Kaloyan), so researchers often conclude that Sveta Petka Stara was a palace church.
In the fall of 1386, the troops of the Ottoman Empire destroyed the building of the old church, but later the temple was rebuilt with donations from the believers of the inhabitants of Sofia (the exact date of construction is unknown, but the first written mention of the new building was recorded in the travel notes of the traveler Stefan Gerlach, who visited Bulgaria in 1578) … In 1930, the church was renovated.
The interior of the church is rather unusual: the lack of natural light (there are no windows in the church), low arched vaults painted with white paint, and the almost complete absence of frescoes create an unusual appearance for an Orthodox church, which, however, attracts with its comfort and intimacy. Visitors to the church can look at ancient icons, including the miraculous icons of St. Petka and St. Minas, a well with healing water and a relic called "The Tree of St. Tarapontius".
The Church of St. Petka Stara is traditionally popular with the residents of Sofia and guests of the city, therefore, there are always many people inside the building, both believers and simply interested in the history and culture of Bulgaria.
