Archaeologists have unearthed the well-preserved remains of a lost church that is thought to have once formed part of a medieval monastery.
The church and monastery, located in the municipality of Veliko Tarnovo (MVT) in Bulgaria, are believed to have been constructed in the 14th century during the reign of Czar Ivan Alexander, historical sources indicate.
The czar ruled as emperor of the Second Bulgarian Empire from 1331 to 1371. After its foundation in 1885, the empire became the dominant power in the Balkans region until around the mid-13th century. Eventually, it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the early 15th century.
The city of Veliko Tarnovo, after which the wider municipality is named, once served as the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. At the time, it was a significant political, economic and cultural hub.
The church was discovered during recent excavations. It is among the most "exquisite" examples of Tarnovo architecture from the era of the Second Bulgarian Empire—both in terms of the construction itself and smaller architectural details, such as the wall paintings and decorations—the MVT said in a press release.
Archaeologist Hitko Vachev of Veliko Tarnovo's Regional Museum of History said the newly revealed church is the main temple of the monastery. Researchers came to this conclusion after connecting the results of the archaeological research with data from a medieval document detailing the life of St. Theodosius of Tarnovo, a high-ranking Bulgarian cleric and hermit who lived during the 14th century.
The monastery is mentioned in written sources from the 14th century, but its exact location had not yet been established.
Archaeologists are hoping that the church will be fully revealed by future excavations, as well as other buildings belonging to the monastery.
Vachev said there is also a real possibility that the grave of one of St. Theodosius' closest companions—a Bulgarian saint who was also abbot of the monastery—could be discovered during subsequent investigations.
The excavation at the site revealed the church's walls, which were built of precisely cut stone blocks and bricks, the Bulgarian News Agency reported. In addition, a vaulted gallery was found on the north side of the church, the arches of which were supported by stone columns.
Historical sources even suggest that Alexander himself participated personally, albeit symbolically, in the church's construction, supposedly carrying sand to the site from a nearby river.
Among the most impressive artifact finds from the church excavations are a bronze cross, a Communion spoon and an ampoule, a small vial used to store ointment.
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