Chrám stará svätá Petka, Eastern Orthodox church in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Chrám stará svätá Petka is an Eastern Orthodox church building in Plovdiv featuring three naves and Doric columns on its exterior facade. Inside, an ornately carved wooden screen called an ikonostas, crafted by master artisan Petăr Kušlev, separates the sanctuary from the main worship space.
The building dates to 1836, when it was constructed to replace an earlier medieval church that had served the Orthodox community before Ottoman forces destroyed it in 1371. This reconstruction marked the return of the religious community to their worship site after centuries without their own sacred space.
The church honors Saint Paraskeva, locally called Saint Petka, whose feast day on October 14 brings together worshippers for traditional Orthodox ceremonies. Visitors experience how this saint holds deep meaning in the community through the decoration and daily religious practice here.
The church welcomes visitors during open hours to view the religious architecture and art collections on display. When services are underway, visitors should observe respectfully and dress appropriately as a sign of consideration for the sacred space.
A school operated next door to the church starting in 1836, focusing on instruction in Church Slavonic language as its primary curriculum. This educational facility played an important role in preserving the linguistic and spiritual heritage of the local Orthodox population.
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