Great female martyrs have traditionally been honoured ever since the times of Bulgarian medieval kings. During the reign of the Assens (12th-13th centuries) the relics of St Nedelya and St Petka were moved to Turnovo, the medieval capital of Bulgaria. The churches built in their honour were later demolished by the Muslim conquerors. Nevertheless, these saints were honoured by all Bulgarians even during the Ottoman rule. The Passional of St. Nedelya, written by Patriarch Euthimius of Turnovo, is still preserved. St Nedelya Church, one of the oldest in Plovdiv, received a new wood-carved iconostasis in 1766 and it is still preserved inside the chapel located in the churchyard.
The church was rebuilt in 1831-1832 by the Bratsigovo builder Petko Petkov. The exquisite walnut tree iconostasis, made by the master carver Yane Spirov, is in complete correspondence with the wood-carved throne of the bishop. Above the three-nave pseudo basilica rises the beautiful belfry, well visible from a distance, which was built in 1905 by the architect Mihail Nenkov.
This place reminds not only of the struggle for independent Bulgarian church, but also of the death of the martyr St Rada of Plovdiv. She was the sister of Vulko Tchalukov from Koprivshtitsa whose family moved to Plovdiv and became famous for their generous donations. All members of Rada's family fell victim to the Turkish atrocities. First, her husband was killed; later on, in 1837, she was slain in her home together with her children. The Orthodox Church declared them New Martyrs. There is a memorial plaque outside the wall to remind of their martyrdom.

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Saint Nedelya Orthodox Church - Plovdiv - Public Info

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Inserted: 20-07-2023 06:07:34