Church of St. Petka Paraskeva-Apriltsi

Overview

Memories of the origin of the church are intertwined with legends, but one thing is certain - in 1814 people form Novo selo can be worshiped in a spacious, hidden in the ground and out of sight of the infidel Orthodox church. Tsocho Somlev Chorbadji the mayor, became the head of its construction. According to some, this is due to the good attitude towards the Turkish wives of the Lovech beys, sheltered in the village during the conquest of Lovech in 1811 by the troops of General Saint-Prix. The other legend is related to the election of Sevlievo Ayanin and the intervention of Mayor Tsocho Somlev. His word turned out to be decisive and as a sign of gratitude the chosen one decided to give him the Begleshkite livadi Meadows. The patriotic feeling prevails over material well-being and instead of land, grandfather Tsocho Moskovetsa wants to build a church on the plateau above the river Kalna. He was allowed, but on one condition - to be small and low, dug into the ground, "not to arouse the hatred of the Turks." There are also trained priests who were educated in Kiev and Chisinau. The monks Gerontius and Dorothea donated the first church books. The church is "three-nave", almost completely dug into the ground. There are men's and women's compartments, which are entered through separate doors. It was partially rebuilt in 1845-1850 and mainly after the Chirpan earthquake of 1930. Too little is left of it. There are no frescoes, some of the icons have been destroyed, others preserved in not the most favorable conditions in the church-monument "St. George the Victorious", scattered and partially destroyed are some of the large stone candlesticks. Both capitals with stone sculptures are missing until 1984.