church george church george bulgarian medieval eastern orthodox church city lies southwestern bulgaria administrative capital church located neighbourhood historically separate city church constructed 10th 11th century somewhat later earliest layers painted 11th 12th century history dated late 10th early 11th century based architectural appearance mural paintings makes oldest preserved church city located southwestern village merged city theory bulgarian emperor buried perished battle serbian victory second bulgarian empire paved way short lived serbian dominance balkans century scholar entirely dismisses theory erroneous reference bulgarian history literature despite located outside time construction city main style church served cathedral church suffered severe damage 19th century time ottoman rule bulgaria destroyed leaving foundations arches reconstructed establishment bulgaria restoration 2000s architecture decoration church follows byzantine cross square design measures metres dome octagonal features bays contain windows appears square total pillars support church inside frame entrance altar remaining stand dome church design materials church construction bricks mortar resulting rows red white church interior preserved number medieval particularly lower reaches walls pillars paintings altar 11th 12th century decoration pillars dates 12th century inscriptions accompany murals altar features images bearing bishops possibly identified number saints depicted inside church including saints unidentified female saints later works art church boasts icons murals painter works architectural artistic value list bulgaria monuments cultural national importance reorganization list 1960s included architectural artistic monument respectively native house city art gallery listed number tourist sites bulgaria
Church of St George, Kyustendil