Church of St Athanasius, Boboshevo
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Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
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...
n church in the town of Boboshevo
Boboshevo
Boboshevo is a town in Western Bulgaria. It is located in Kyustendil Province and is close to the towns of Kocherinovo and Rila.The town of Boboshevo is situated around to the south of Sofia and from Bulgaria's prime skiing destination, Bansko...
, Kyustendil Province
Kyustendil Province
-Religion:Religious adherence in the province according to 2001 census:-Language:Mother tongues in the province according to 2001 census:* 153,242 Bulgarian * 7,929 Roma * 1363 others and unspecified -Ethnic groups:...
.
Location, history, architectural and artistic values
The church is situated on a large platform in the cemetery in the small town of Boboshevo. It is a small one nave church with a semi-round apse. It is 8 m long and 5 m wide. There are two niches on the left and the right walls and another small semi-round niche on the northern niche. The church used to have a vault which was replaced with eaves during the reconstruction. A covered narthex was added in the 18th century and in 1926-1927 a new narthex with refectory was constructed. The walls of the church are 0,70 m thick and are made of stone. The church was fully painted from the inside and the western facade was painted from the outside as well according to the canon. According to the hardly readable ktitorKtitor
A ktetor or ktitor is someone who provides the funds for construction or reconstruction of an Orthodox church or monastery, for the addition of icons, frescos, and other works of art. A Catholic equivalent of the term is a donator. The female form is ktetorissa or ktitorissa ....
inscriptions on the southern wall the church was constructed in 1590 or 1600. Up to 29 October 1862 it used to be the main church of the town. After the construction of the larger Church of St Bogoroditsa, St Athanasius was converted into a cemetery church.
The church is an architectural monument of culture of local significance (DV is.77/1972) and an architectural-artistic monument of national importance (DV is.38/1972).
The church was named after Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. – d. 2 May 373] is also given the titles St. Athanasius the Great, St. Athanasius I of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Confessor and St Athanasius the Apostolic. He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 45 years Athanasius of Alexandria [b....
also known as Saint Athanasius I the Great Patriarch of Alexandria. The church honours the saint on 18 January and 2 May.
Literature
- Кепов, Иван - Миналото и сегашно на Бобошево. С., 1935, с. 191;
- Василиев, Асен - Проучвания на изобразителните изкуства из някои селища по долината на Струма. - Известия на Института за изобразителни изкуства, VІІ, 1964 г., с.157 и сл.;
- Марди, В. - Бабикова - Научно мотивирано предложение за обявяване на църквата "Св.Атанас" в с.Бобошево, Кюстендилско за паметник на културата. С., 1969, 23 с.;
- Дремсизова-Нелчинова, Цв., Л. Слокоска. Археологически паметници от Кюстендилски окръг. С., 1978, с. 13;
- Енциклопедичен речник Кюстендил А-Я. С., 1988, с. 587.
- Матуски, В. Иконографската програма на храма „Св. Атанасий Александрйски" в гр. Бобошево и някои особености в иконографията му. - В: Любен Прашков - реставратор и изкуствовед. Материали от научна конференция посветена на 70 год. на проф. Л. Прашков, 14-15 дек. 2001, ВТУ. С. 2006, с. 291-300;
- Матуски, В. За три храма по долината на река Струма. - В: Проф. д.и.н. Станчо Ваклинов и средновековната българска култура, Велико Търново, 2005, с. 452-458;
- Матуски, В. Стенописни надписи от бобошевския храм „Св. Атанасий Александрийски" в контекста на неговата иконография. — В: Културните текстове на миналото, носители, символи и идеи. Т. IV. С., 2005, с. 60-63;
- Ангелов, Светозар - Църквата "Св.Атанасий" в Бобошево - проучвания и проблеми. - Известия на Историческия музей - Кюстендил, ХІV, 2007, с. 123-140;
- Ангелов, Светозар - Църквата "Св.Атанасий" в Бобошево, В : Църкви и манастири от Югозападна България през ХV- ХVІІ в., София, ЦСВП "Проф.Иван Дуйчев" към СУ"Св.Климент Охридски", 2007 г., с.38-40;
- Заедно по свещените места на планината Осогово. Пътеводител. С., 2008, с. 108.