The Church Of St. Dmitry in Petulance Photo: Church Of St. Dmitry in Petulance

The Church of Agios Dimitrios is located in the village of foot of the mountain in the Western part of the region of Pazardzhik and 15 km from the town of Pazardzhik.

There are different points of view regarding the time of creation of this temple. Some researchers believe that the building was built in the late XII – early XIII century, while others suggest that it was created in 1090-1091, testifies to found here a plate with an inscription in Greek).

According to the legend, the Church was well preserved to our days, because before the invasion of the Turks in the early fourteenth century it was covered with earth. Over time this place turned into a hill and the Church was forgotten. About the middle of the nineteenth century, one farmer decided to dig grew up on the mound of wild cherry. However, when he started digging spade the ground, he saw sticking out of the ground metal cross. The farmer remembered the well-known legend about "buried" in the Church. Under the direction of Peter Gagawa ancient building was excavated. Another legend says that after a severe storm a shepherd had seen on the hill pulled out from the earth a large tree. In the place where it stood, gaping hole. The peasants went down the rope and found hidden in the earth temple.

In 1870 the Church was reconstructed and consecrated in honor of St. Demetrios, also known as Martyr Demetrios the Wonderworker.

The building, built of stone and brick, is a temple of the cross-domed type (premises form the shape of a cross in the center of which is a low tower with a dome) with a pentagonal apse. The dimensions of the Church – 9 meters in length and 7, 5 – wide. The facades of buildings decorated with wide and two-stage high arched recesses. On the North side of the building in the center of these niches are small narrow Windows. On the temple roof is a dome, the base of which rests on the columns inside the building.

The Church was repeatedly restored, completed. As a result, the flooring was replaced, in the North wall is made of Windows, also built a new porch. Gradually, the building acquired its present form.

Once the walls and ceiling of the Church were covered with frescoes. Unfortunately, not all of them survived until our days. Today you can see about 70 scenes and figures, many of which you can identify.

In 1956 the Church. Dmitry was officially declared a monument of culture of national significance.

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