Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Nikopol
Encyclopedia
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a partially preserved medieval Eastern Orthodox
church in the town of Nikopol
, which lies in north central Bulgaria
on the south bank of the Danube
and is administratively part of Pleven Province
. The church was built in the 13th or 14th century and was decorated with brick and marble patterns. The west part of the church (the narthex
) is entirely in ruins.
(1185–1396/1422). During this period, Nikopol evolved into a major Bulgarian fortress on the Danube and a cultural centre of its region.
The church is of the crossed-dome
style and its cella
is almost square, as it measures 10 by 7 m (32.8 by 23 ft). The church has a single apse
and a single nave
, and it used to have three domes. The elongated main octagonal dome has been preserved, though the two other domes, which were positioned over the narthex, have not, as the entire narthex has been destroyed. The walls of the church were constructed out of rectangular stone blocks interchanged with two rows of red brickwork
. More elaborate stone and brick patterns decorate the facade and the main dome. Each of the dome's eight sides features arches, with either a narrow window or a blind arch
nested in. Marble
was employed in the facade's decoration. The overall architectural style has been likened to that of Veliko Tarnovo
and Nesebar
's medieval churches.
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul could possibly be the one referenced in 15th-century writer Vladislav the Grammarian
's account of the transportation of Saint John of Rila
's relics from Tarnovo back to the Rila Monastery
in 1469. However, scholar Bistra Nikolova believes that the connection is far from certain, as the church from Vladislav's writings is only known as "the church of zhupan
Bogdan" and was located within the Nikopol Fortress.
The church is included among Bulgaria's monuments of culture of national importance. It was added to the list in 1927, with a publication in that year's State Gazette
issue 69.
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
church in the town of Nikopol
Nikopol, Bulgaria
Nikopol is a town in northern Bulgaria, the administrative center of Nikopol municipality, part of Pleven Province, on the right bank of the Danube river, 4 km downstream from the mouth of the Osam river. It spreads at the foot of steep chalk cliffs along the Danube and up a narrow valley...
, which lies in north central Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
on the south bank of the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
and is administratively part of Pleven Province
Pleven Province
Pleven Province is a province located in central northern Bulgaria, bordering the Danube river, Romania and the Bulgarian provinces of Vratsa, Veliko Tarnovo and Lovech. It is divided into 11 subdivisions, called municipalities, that embrace a territory of 4,333.54 km² with a population, as...
. The church was built in the 13th or 14th century and was decorated with brick and marble patterns. The west part of the church (the narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
) is entirely in ruins.
History and architecture
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is known to the locals as "The Little Monastery" (Манастирчето, Manastircheto), possibly because it once belonged to a now-ruined medieval monastery. Located beneath the northeastern part of Nikopol's medieval fortress, the church has been conclusively dated to the 13th–14th century, that is, the time of the Second Bulgarian EmpireSecond Bulgarian Empire
The Second Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state which existed between 1185 and 1396 . A successor of the First Bulgarian Empire, it reached the peak of its power under Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before gradually being conquered by the Ottomans in the late 14th-early 15th century...
(1185–1396/1422). During this period, Nikopol evolved into a major Bulgarian fortress on the Danube and a cultural centre of its region.
The church is of the crossed-dome
Cross-in-square
The term cross-in-square or crossed-dome denotes the dominant architectural form of middle- and late-period Byzantine churches. The first cross-in-square churches were probably built in the late 8th century, and the form has remained in use throughout the Orthodox world until the present day...
style and its cella
Cella
A cella or naos , is the inner chamber of a temple in classical architecture, or a shop facing the street in domestic Roman architecture...
is almost square, as it measures 10 by 7 m (32.8 by 23 ft). The church has a single apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
and a single nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, and it used to have three domes. The elongated main octagonal dome has been preserved, though the two other domes, which were positioned over the narthex, have not, as the entire narthex has been destroyed. The walls of the church were constructed out of rectangular stone blocks interchanged with two rows of red brickwork
Brickwork
Brickwork is masonry produced by a bricklayer, using bricks and mortar to build up brick structures such as walls. Brickwork is also used to finish corners, door, and window openings, etc...
. More elaborate stone and brick patterns decorate the facade and the main dome. Each of the dome's eight sides features arches, with either a narrow window or a blind arch
Blind arch
A blind arch is an arch found in the wall of a building which has been infilled with solid construction so it cannot serve as a passageway, door, or window. The term is most often associated with masonry wall construction, but is also found in other types of construction such as light frame...
nested in. Marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
was employed in the facade's decoration. The overall architectural style has been likened to that of Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists...
and Nesebar
Nesebar
Nesebar is an ancient town and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, located in Burgas Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Nesebar Municipality...
's medieval churches.
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul could possibly be the one referenced in 15th-century writer Vladislav the Grammarian
Vladislav the Grammarian
Vladislav the Grammarian was a fifteenth-century Bulgarian monk, writer, historian and theologian.He worked in both medieval Bulgaria and Serbia and is regarded as both Serbian and Bulgarian author...
's account of the transportation of Saint John of Rila
John of Rila
Saint John of Rila was the first Bulgarian hermit. He was revered as a saint while he was still alive. The legend surrounding him tells of wild animals that freely came up to him and birds that landed in his hands. His followers founded many churches in his honor, including the famous Rila...
's relics from Tarnovo back to the Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of above sea level...
in 1469. However, scholar Bistra Nikolova believes that the connection is far from certain, as the church from Vladislav's writings is only known as "the church of zhupan
Župa
A Župa is a Slavic term, used historically among the Southern and Western branches of the Slavs, originally denoting various territorial and other sub-units, usually a small administrative division, especially a gathering of several villages...
Bogdan" and was located within the Nikopol Fortress.
The church is included among Bulgaria's monuments of culture of national importance. It was added to the list in 1927, with a publication in that year's State Gazette
State Gazette
The State Gazette is the gazette of record of Bulgaria. It has been published since 1879.The print edition of the gazette is divided into two sections. The "Official section" contains bills promulgated by the National Assembly, decrees by the Council of Ministers, international treaties, and other...
issue 69.