church nicholas bulgarian small medieval eastern orthodox church southwestern bulgarian town originally property local notable attached larger church constructed 11th 14th century church built red bricks white mortar simple byzantine cross square design single nave interior scarcely preserved reconstructed falling ruin listed monument culture national importance history scholars disagree possible period church construction assessments range 11th 12th 12th 13th 13th 14th century article magazine local priest cited saying stone church altar unearthed excavations priest believed stone reportedly date inscribed sent capital size probably constructed independent church legend links church unidentified local feudal lord named nicholas final resting place archaeologist considers likely possibly chapel cemetery church attached larger place worship larger church pulled early ottoman rule bulgaria century destroyed renovation prohibited ottomans gradually fell ruin study writes time church lacked roof references story group settled order ottoman authorities war according story sought pull church roof fell death inside church fled horror church thoroughly reconstructed team architect architecture church nicholas lies centre architecture simple single nave single present church follows byzantine cross square design unusually short arms equal size dome sides particular height large church size situated church eastern shape features window entrance located west wall church constructed rows red bricks stuck white mortar according scholar size metres source measures way square appearance height probably reached dome terms design decoration church near today compared nearby features multitude stepped outside walls interior originally entirely covered fragments survive enlisted monument culture national importance publication bulgaria newspaper record issue
Church of St Nicholas, Sapareva Banya