Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

In the Church of Saints Peter and Paul the relics of St. John of Polivotsky were transferred to the church by Tsar Kaloyan in the capital city of Turnovo in 1204. Subsequently, a monastery complex was formed around the church. It was built according to the will and priesthood of Anna-Maria (1221–1237), wife of Tsar Ivan Assen II. During the Ottoman rule, hundreds of manuscripts from the royal library were placed there. Many of them were destroyed in 1842 by the Greek ruler.

The church is dedicated to the Christian Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It follows the cross-domed design and has a single apse. The cella is divided into three naves by two rows of columns. The columns' capitals are decorated with plastic carving and tracery. The church has a high, massive iconostasis. According to the 14th-century account of Patriarch Evtimiy, the church and the surrounding monastery were built on the order of Tsar Ivan Asen II's (ruled 1218–1241) wife Anna.

Religious sites in Bulgaria

User Reviews

Karina R (10 months ago)
Amazing frescoes from the XIV to the XVII centuries, well preserved What was more amazing for me was how the old church was protected in a newer structure Definitely worth the visit

Mirian Metodieva (12 months ago)
This church was worth visiting for it's preserved icons. If you are interested in learning the history of frescoes and Orthodox art , that's a beautiful masterpiece. It has pretty rare depiction of saints, done incredibly good. Taking photos usually is not forbidden and you have to pay, but they can lead it slide.

morgan manley (2 years ago)
Absolute must-see if this is your area of interest. Wonderfully preserved frescos in a beautifully preserved church. All of it inside a modern protective exterior.

Sophie Dobrev (4 years ago)
A very well-preserved orthodox Bulgarian church from the 13th century, stunning to see the original paintings!

Diana Cristina Blinda (5 years ago)
Interesting place for the mural paintings.

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The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul

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