The lower church was the name of the parish church "Holy Saints Peter and Paul" in the city of Sopot, built in the foundations of the historic Trapeto hill, whose ruined walls could be seen until 1944.
The Revival Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which is a parish church, is located in the central part of the city of Sopot.
It was built in 1846 under the direction of the master builder Nikola Hristov Troyanov (1775 - 1862), a representative of the late Baroque style in the Bratsigov architecture school.
The site for the construction of the new church was not chosen by chance - it is located at the southern foot of the historic Trapeto hill and in the immediate vicinity of the Sopot virgin monastery "Vavedenie Bogorodichno" (Metoha).
With its impressive appearance, it is one of the most representative buildings of church construction in the Bulgarian lands.
Architecturally, the church is a large three-nave domeless pseudo-basilica with three apses, without a vestibule, but with an arcaded vestibule on the west (nartic) and two porticoes over the entrances from the north and south.
It impresses with its impressive external dimensions: length - 36 meters and width - 18 meters.
The central nave is divided from the north and south naves by six pairs of wooden columns that carry a structure supporting a gabled roof. The ceilings above the three naves are level, the middle one being slightly higher than the side ones. In the western part of the church there is an emporia developed above the arcade vestibule, with its side wings reaching the iconostasis. The spacious interior is abundantly lit. It is developed in depth. The interior of the church is made in Baroque style.
Of particular interest is the external architecture of the building, to which the builders paid considerable attention. In this respect, the church is considered exemplary for the revival period. The Bratsigov architectural school was one of the best in the Bulgarian lands during the Renaissance. Her area of work includes the Rhodope Mountains, Thrace, the Central Highlands and the foothills of the Balkans. In their works, the Bratsigov masters skilfully combine innovation in the Renaissance architectural style with traditional Bulgarian forms. The disparate openings are connected perfectly and are balanced skillfully with the small porticoes in front of the entrances.
The eastern facade is a continuous play of lines. The wall is curved in a three-point curve, emphasizing the applied stone arches on it. The cornice is wavy. The main cornice has raised corners, and an elliptical curve rises in its middle. The western facade is the subject of a number of studies.
It is extremely interesting with its undulating curve on the western cornice of the western gable. Raising the corners seems to give wings to the facade. A uniform rhythm of the elements is characteristic. Above the arch on the ground floor, the wall is decorated with nine high niches, of which the middle one is the highest, and the side ones descend along the lines of the gabled roof. The central quatrefoil window and the two elliptical windows on either side of it also show Baroque features. All these architectural forms were not imported from outside, but are characteristic of the medieval architecture of the 12th - 14th centuries.
In a New Bulgarian written monument from the 17th century, the Tikhonrav damascene (in the past it was kept in the church) contains information about the existence in Sopot for centuries of a church called "St. St. Peter and Paul".
It is assumed that it was found by the conquerors and its successor is the church of the same name built in 1846.
A very important archaeological find was subsequently found in the church yard. Foundations of a building wall up to 30 meters long and up to 60 centimeters wide. They face east-west and are parallel to the eastern wall of the church, built in 1846, standing five meters south of it. They were built from cut and uncut stone, pieces of Byzantine-type bricks and coarse-grained mortar. They are dated to the period from the 12th century to the 14th century. It is not known when and under what circumstances the Damascene church "St. St. Peter and Paul" mentioned in Tikhonravova disappeared. It is very likely that the old foundations discovered in the churchyard are hers. In support of these, the fact that the church of "St. Peter and Paul" is also called the Lower Church, in contrast to the Upper Church - the destroyed White Church - the Church of the Holy Virgin, which gives reason to assume that the two churches existed simultaneously and earlier, during the same period, and the possibility that they were built approximately at the same time is not excluded.
The influence of the architecture of the Boyan church from the 13th century is felt in the curves of the cornices of "Holy Holy Apostles Peter and Paul". The Bulgarian architectural tradition was adopted by the Renaissance masters, albeit modified. They put in it the spirit of the new age.
It is not by chance that this church is considered a model of architectural mastery. According to her scheme, Nikola Troyanov built in 1847 the church "St. Nicholas" in neighboring Karlovo, but without reaching the same perfection.
In 1900, a bell tower was erected to the church.
During the Liberation War (1877), despite the heroic resistance of the local population, Sopot was burned and almost destroyed by Bashibozus and Circassians. Sopot's churches and monasteries were also destroyed. The Revival Church "Saints Saints Apostles Peter and Paul" was seriously damaged, as the flames destroyed the roof, wooden ornaments, iconostasis and furniture.
Sources of information:
After the construction of the revival church next to the older spiritual center - the Maiden's monastery (the metoch), the metoch continued to be the center of cultural life in Sopot and even grew into a kind of spiritual and enlightened complex.
Virgin Monastery "Introduction of the Virgin Mary" (metoch) has been declared an immovable cultural value (NCC) / cultural monument with the category of national significance - folk antiquities and architectural-construction NCC.
Virgin Monastery "Introduction of the Virgin" (metoch) is site number 43 of the 100 national tourist sites of Bulgaria.
In 1850, in the middle of the churchyard, south of the Revival Church "Saints Saints Apostles Peter and Paul", a girls' mutual school, known as the Radino School, opened its doors, which is considered the successor of the cell school in the neighboring girls' metoch.
I say goodbye to the Radino School and head in the direction of the Ethnographic and Craft Center "Sopot Guild".
On the historic hill of Trapeto, where the Church of the Holy Mother of God, known as the Upper Church, burned down in 1877 by the Turks, today stood the Chapel of the Intercession of the Virgin - right across from the composition "I am Bulgarian".
The patriarch of Bulgarian literature Ivan Vazov was born on July 9, 1850 in the city of Sopot in the old house of his family.
In 1964, the "Ivan Vazov" house-museum was declared a cultural monument of national importance.
House-Museum "Ivan Vazov" is site number 43 of the 100 national tourist sites of Bulgaria.
The path to the majestic and so charming Sopot waterfall on the Manastirska River starts from the Sopot Men's Monastery "Ascension of the Lord".
Here is the heart of the waterfall, which constantly beats in time with the Balkans.
How to get to the city of Sopot?
Sopot is a city in Central Bulgaria, Plovdiv district. It is located about 5 kilometers west of the town of Karlovo.
The city is the administrative center of the Sopot municipality.
Sopot is located in the fertile Stremska Valley at 510 meters above sea level, literally nestled in the incredibly beautiful southern slopes of the Stara Planina.
The name of the city comes from the Proto-Slavic word sopot, which means a roaring stream, spring.
Near the town is the starting station of the chair lift to the "Nezabravka" hut, which is the longest in the Balkans.
There are many lodges in the surroundings of Sopot, which can be reached by marked trails. One of them is Nezabravka hut (3 hours). Various tourist routes start from it. You can head to Mount Levski (2 hours), "Ambaritsa" hut (3 hours) and "Dermenka" hut (3 hours).
In the Pochivaloto area there are conditions for paragliding and it is there that the intermediate station (at 1,389 meters above sea level) of the ropeway to the "Nezabravka" hut in Stara Planina is located.
Sopot is the most famous airbase in Bulgaria. It is located at the southern foot of Stara planina.
National, international and world paragliding competitions are held every year in the city of Sopot on the territory of the Shambala European Center for Extreme Sports and Meditation.
The Sub-Balkan road* passes through the city, and Sopot is also close to road II-64 Karlovo - Plovdiv.
*Republican road I-6, better known as the Sub-Balkan road, is a first-class road from the Republic road network of Bulgaria with a direction from west to east, crossing the territory of nine districts: Kyustendilska, Pernishka, Sofia region, Sofiaska, Plovdivska, Starozagorska, Sliven, Yambol and Burgas.
Its total length is 508.5 km, which makes it the longest national road in Bulgaria.
Sopot stands at:
134 kilometers (about 2 hours by car) from the capital
65 kilometers (about 1 hour and 15 minutes by car) from the city of Plovdiv
370 kilometers (about 4 hours and 44 minutes by car) from the city of Varna
298 kilometers (about 2 hours and 58 minutes by car) from the city of Burgas
Sopot is connected by bus lines to Karlovo and the surrounding villages. From Karlovo, at small intervals, there are buses leading to Ivan Vazov's hometown.
The address of the Sopot bus station is 75 Ivan Vazov Blvd.
Sopot railway station is connected to the Sofia-Karlovo-Burgas line.
You will find it about a kilometer south of the city and it is served by regular public transport.
How to get to Revival Church "Holy Saints Apostles Peter and Paul" in the city of Sopot?
The Revival Church "Holy Saints Apostles Peter and Paul" is located on "Stara Planina" street at the foot of the historic Trapeto hill, just below the "I am Bulgarian" composition.
In front of the temple there is a small but convenient parking lot, the access to which is from "General Kartsov" street.
What can be visited nearby?
The nearest town to Sopot is the town of Karlovo - located 5 kilometers (about 6 minutes by car) to the east.
In Karlovo, I recommend taking a walk to the Ethnographic Complex "Old Karlovo".
It includes five houses - cultural monuments of remarkable cultural value. These are:
Each of the houses gives birth to its own unique message that directs the guest in different directions, provokes desires and memories in him, makes him dream.
The integrity of the architectural ensemble is unique and inimitable, and every visitor could feel that great revival spirit that still roams the narrow cobbled streets of "Old Karlovo".
Ethnographic complex "Old Karlovo" is site number 44b of the 100 national tourist sites.
In Karlovo, I recommend taking a walk to the beautiful Suchurum waterfall.
Only about 40 kilometers northwest of the city of Karlovo (about 50 minutes by car) you will find the Freedom Arch monument, which is erected on the Goraltepe peak (1595 meters) near the Troyan pass (Troyan - Karnare pass).
From here, there are incredible panoramic views of Northern and Southern Bulgaria.
Only 24 kilometers west of the town of Karlovo (about 27 minutes by car) is the rose-scented village of Rozino, where thousands of fragrant roses bloom in spring.
Just 33 kilometers west of the city of Karlovo (about 35 minutes by car) you will find the historic town of Klisura.
Returning back in the direction of the Sub-Balkan road, continue in the direction of the city of Burgas.
You will soon see that the path forks. Continue straight without taking the turn that will take you to the Sub-Balkan Road. A path through the forest starts from the place, which will take you to the monument of Apriltsi, towering in the area of Zli dol, erected in 1961 in honor of the 85th anniversary of those memorable events.
Just 3.7 kilometers west of the town of Klisura (about 5 minutes by car) you will find the beautiful Klisura Waterfall.
Only 10 kilometers west of Klisursky waterfall (about 8 minutes by car) on the Podbalkansky road itself is the charming Antonovsky waterfall (also Antonsky waterfall or the Butterfly).
Near the Antonovsky waterfall is the peaceful, green and so beautiful village of Anton.
Just 6 kilometers west of the village of Anton (about 9 minutes by car) you will find the majestic ruins of the Elenska Basilica, which you should not miss in any case.
Near the ruins of the Elenska Basilica, as a memory of the destroyed Bulgarian monastery, in 2010, the "St. Ilia" chapel was erected and consecrated.
Just 5 kilometers south of the village of Anton (about 6 minutes by car) is the picturesque Midland jewel of Dushantsi.
Let your walk also take you to the beautiful church "St. St. Cyril and Methodius".
Dušanci is a delightful place in every season! Proof of this is the magnificent photo moments with the wonderful Christmas and New Year decorations, bringing so much delight to our senses!
At the end of the village, don't miss to turn left, where the authentic Roman Kufarita Bridge awaits you.
Continuing after the Kufarita bridge, the road will take you to the "St. George" chapel above Dushantsi, from where you will enjoy a wonderful view of the entire Zlatishko-Pirdop valley.
The road after the village will take you to Dushantsi Reservoir - magnificent in every season - in autumn, in winter and on the border between spring and summer. Enjoy it!
Just 13 kilometers west of the village of Anton (about 15 minutes by car) you will find the town of Zlatitsa.
In the city center, be sure to have a lot of fun in the "Grandfather's Glove" park.
Very close to Grandfather's Glove Park is the old clock tower.
From the old clock tower, head towards the northeastern part of Zlatitsa, north of the railway line, where "Stara planina" street is located. Taking it, you will soon find yourself outside the northern outskirts in the foothills of the Balkans, where the rumble will tell you that you are approaching Zlatiski Waterfall.
In the immediate vicinity of the waterfall itself are the stairs that will take you to the chapel of St. St. Cyric and Iulita. The place offers an extremely beautiful view of the entire Zlatishko-Pirdop valley.
If you continue to the left past the waterfall, you will find yourself at the Ascension Monastery and Spasovo Kladchenche.
Gergana fountain in the town of Zlatica, inspired by Slaveykov's "Fountain of the Whitefoot", is located about one kilometer south of the city center on Medet Street, not far from the last houses, on the road leading to the area of the same name, in the direction the village of Panagyurski colonies and the town of Panagyurishte.
Only 11 kilometers west of the town of Zlatica (about 13 minutes by car) you will find the uniquely beautiful and so arranged village of Chavdar.
Near the village are the uniquely beautiful and easily accessible Kazanite waterfalls - a natural phenomenon of five charming and beautiful waterfalls on the Bererei river, descending from a height of 15 meters, forming a cascade of clear ice water.
In Chavdar, an annual assembly is held on Mount Sveta Petka, which is located above the village. The locality is named after the patron saint of the village, Saint Petka.
The place is not accidental, because the view from it is extraordinary. From there you can see the entire Zlatishka valley, even the Topolnitsa river. A chapel "St. Petka" was built there.
Archaeological Park "Topolnitsa" is also located nearby.
All the unsurpassed beauty of the Zlatishko-Pirdopski historical region is collected in a single route "Wonders of the Zlatishko-Pirdopski region", prepared by me for you with a lot of love and which is a wonderful idea for the weekend!
All of the ideas presented here are totally relevant and doable within a weekend!
Only 20 kilometers south of the village of Anton (about 26 minutes by car) is the Archaeological-Historical Reserve City-Museum of Koprivshtitsa - site number 75 of the 100 national tourist sites of Bulgaria.
Near the town, I suggest you visit the impressively beautiful and so charming Koprivshtitsa station.
In Koprivshtitsa, you must take time and visit the Revival Church "St. Nicholas".
A walk through the green pastures around the city of Koprivshtitsa will shake you out of the gray everyday life and give you a positive boost, and I highly recommend it!
On a vast territory, located between the picturesque towns of Koprivshtitsa and Strelcha, you will find several ancient megalithic sanctuaries - Skumsale, Isara, Kiselitsa, Kulata.
Just 21 kilometers south of the town of Koprivshtitsa (about 25 minutes by car) you will find the charming jewel of Strelcha.
In the town of Strelcha, you can enjoy the singing and dancing fountain "The Ballerina".
Don't forget to bow your head near the majestic temple-monument "St. Archangel Michael" that rises in the city of Strelcha.
Only 11 kilometers south of the city of Karlovo (about 12 minutes by car) you will find the city of Banya - a source of health and beauty.
In the city of Banya, you can visit the Royal Palace.
And also to enjoy a charming bath walk while thousands of red roses bloom around.
12 kilometers east of Banya (about 18 minutes by car) is the charming Domlyan Reservoir, which is a great idea for a walk.
Uniquely beautiful rose bushes bloom in the village of Domlyan, which you can explore.
Just 16 kilometers southeast of the village of Domlyan (about 23 minutes by car) you will find the Svezhen Architectural and Historical Reserve.
In the village of Svezhen you can visit the church "Holy Apostles Peter and Paul".
You can visit the ruins of the old Church of St. George, near which foundations have been discovered - remains of cells plastered with mud plaster on the walls, which are supposed to have been inhabited by the scribes-calligraphers of the Adjarian School of Literature.
Just 11 kilometers southeast of the village of Svezhen (about 16 minutes by car) you will find the village of Babek. "Babek" dam is located nearby, near which you can take a wonderful walk.
22 kilometers south of the village of Svezhen (about 29 minutes by car) is the town of Brezovo.
In Brezovo, on a weekday, stop by the municipality to see the exhibition dedicated to Beethoven's best portraitist - Mincho Katsarov.
Another great Bulgarian artist - Zlatyo Boyadzhiev - is from Brezovo. His house in the city of Brezovo is open to the public and anyone who wants to can see it.
In Brezovo, you should not miss visiting the old school in Brezovo - one of the first secular schools in Bulgarian lands.
Directly opposite the school building stands the church "Saint Dimitar", built in 1843.
Only about 26 kilometers from the village of Svezhen (about 39 minutes by car) you can explore Kutela.
Quite nearby is also a natural landmark "Kitchest Gabor".
The village of Turia is located 8 kilometers north of the natural landmark "Kichest Gabar" (about 9 minutes by car).
In the village of Turia, you can explore the birthplace of Chudomir.
On the square in front of Chudomir's home, you can see a monument to the Chetnik Tsanko Minkov Dechev, born in Turia Botev - the Committee.
In the village of Turia, you can cross an authentic Roman bridge "Scocca".
Only 25 kilometers south of the city of Karlovo (about 26 minutes by car) you will find the green and peaceful Hisarya.
Hisarya offers its guests diverse and impressive attractions, which I have summarized in the following great itinerary ideas that everyone can benefit from:
Just 20 kilometers east of the town of Karlovo (about 33 minutes by car) is the start of the "Byala Reka" eco-trail near the town of Kalofer.
40 kilometers east of the town of Karlovo (about 40 minutes by car) is the town of Pavel Banya - hot mineral springs and the scent of roses.
3 kilometers east of the city of Pavel Banya (about 40 minutes by car) you will find
the village of Viden.
The proud ruins of the wonderful church "St. Anastasius" still stand near the village.
Only 55 kilometers from the city of Karlovo (about 53 minutes by car) is the city of Kazanlak.
In Kazanlak, you can visit the rose museum.
After viewing the museum's rich exposition, I suggest you take a relaxing walk through the wonderful alleys of Rosarium Park in the city of Kazanlak.
In the city of Kazanlak, I suggest you also visit the church "Saint Ilia", also known as the Kulen church.
Only 5 kilometers south of the city of Kazanlak (about 8 minutes by car) is the village of Buzovgrad, from where the wonderful eco-trail adventure "Path through the Ages" begins.
You shouldn't miss it for anything in the world!
And as a finale, my dear friends,
you shouldn't miss a look
the special album with photo moments –
discovered, experienced, captured and shared with you!