church church bulgarian medieval eastern orthodox church southwestern bulgaria lies village church built 11th 14th century possible dating based stone plate inscription present location existence unclear discovered restored 1970s work 12th 13th century built vicinity older church crossed dome stone building according legends church dug ground ottomans conquered bulgaria protected unearthed middle 19th century dedicated proclaimed monument culture national importance history dating according church location description district published writes previously existing church roughly place dedicated given village according previously sanctuary writes column church inscription dedicated preserved newer village church time present church construction exactly defined scholars opinion built early 12th century date late 12th early 13th century author placed construction late 13th early 14th century include 11th century possibilities publications refer marble plate found church bearing inscription following text pro duke year plate preserved late 19th century church known locals indicate connection plate legend tells digging church ground ottoman conquest bulgaria 14th 15th centuries ottomans according story church buried forgotten villagers mid-19th century local coincidentally rediscovered tying nearby cherry tree different version places cherry tree hill church stood reportedly cherry tree struck enabled villagers reach buried gate hollow trunk church soon dedicated 4th century military saint church listed architectural monuments culture national importance subsequent discovery early murals led inclusion list artistic monuments culture architecture decoration built stone dome bays exhibit church metres long wide relatively medieval churches crossed dome type standing bulgaria octagonal dome sided south facade features bays narrow windows attached church floor originally covered marble marble removed possibly rounds reconstruction church underwent example present added final reconstruction time 19th century medieval cover entirety church interior fragments survive today existence medieval mural layer unknown walls covered oil paint 1910s medieval uncovered restored team dating controversial church places painting murals 12th century scholars believe created 13th century according mural inscriptions opposed middle bulgarian evidence painted byzantine rule bulgaria time region belonged byzantine centred modern biblical scenes painted inside ascension jesus altar vault resurrection jesus vault left images number saints preserved including patron saint riding white horse
Church of St Demetrius, Patalenitsa