church holy mother god fortress church holy mother god bulgarian popular medieval eastern orthodox church located lies near south central bulgaria constructed likely 12th century features stories upper story church proper lower story unclear function rectangular tower church regarded earliest preserved kind balkans fragments visible walls church upper story location history lies elevation near road kilometres south town medieval forms ruined castle known fortress church best preserved building church dated scholars 12th century researchers place construction 11th century 13th century church commonly known actual dedication alleged based partial inscription church donor inscription early 20th century inscription visible equivalent mother god main church nearby makes likely inscription references monastery relation church fortress way providing church turn 20th century terminus rival religious organised ethnic greek bulgarian communities greek procession took place comparable bulgarian carried years later began man claimed seen lights heard chants passing near abandoned church ended observed night church suffering damage earthquake church reconstructed team directed architect continues function place worship architecture god measures approximately metres length metres width metres height metres according data walls church constructed bands stones rows tied mortar exception north wall built exclusively stones single band bricks walls vary thickness church features stories upper story certainly church proper place role lower story unclear construction necessitated unfavourable rocky terrain served tomb storage facility considered likely human remains discovered inside lower stories similar churches commonly tombs church single elongated nave dome finishes single eastern dome supported arches north south west east sided outside round inside west sanctuary features hosted sanctuary separated rest nave pillars buttresses support south wall entrance church south wall church total windows south wall north wall west nave small topped unusual rectangular tower tower bell tower possibly accessible wooden inside outside features wide vaulted windows upper rectangular dome covered roof tiles according art historian tower earliest example integrated church building arranged balkan architecture design later establish standard balkans construction integrated tower attributed western european oriental armenian influences decoration church exterior appearance described graceful richly decorated outside blind arches design element typical medieval bulgarian architecture feature prominently south facade dome large arch south wall ties lower upper story particularly richly decorated rows elongated bricks includes triangular shapes patterns red bricks church upper story features fragments interior traces mural painting blind arches interior includes images baptism christ court mother god jesus portraits saints recognised john baptist peter paul constantine military saints depicted south wall north wall features monks preserved 14th century example art
Church of the Holy Mother of God, Asen's Fortress