List of oldest church buildings
High to Late Middle Ages
Table:
Building

Image

Location

Country

Oldest Part

Denomination

Notes

Church of Our Lady

Aarhus

Denmark

1060

Lutheran

An older wooden church was on the site in the 10th century. The crypt of the church is the oldest extant stone church in Scandinavia. It is still functioning as a church.

Cathedral of Pisa

Pisa

Italy

1063

Roman Catholic

Built on the foundations of an older church. Dedicated to the Assumption of St. Mary, it is a Primatial church.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

Santiago de Compostela, Galicia

Spain

1075 (current church)

Roman Catholic

According to tradition, the Apostle James, son of Zebedee spread Christianity in the Iberian Peninsula. In the year 44 he was beheaded in Jerusalem and his remains were later transferred to Galicia in a stone boat. The king Alfonso II of Asturias ordered the construction of a chapel in 810s in the place. This chapel was followed by a first church in 829 and later by a pre-Romanesque church on 899, gradually becoming an important place of pilgrimage. In 997 this primitive church was reduced to ashes by Almanzor, commander of the army of the Caliphate of Cordoba. The construction of the current cathedral in the same place was built between 1075 and 1122 under the reign of Alfonso VI of León and Castile. The baroque façade of Obradoiro was made in 1740; also baroque is that of Acibecharía; that of Pratarías was built by Master Esteban in 1103; the Pórtico da Gloria, a primordial work of Romanesque sculpture, completed by Master Mateo in 1188.

Church of the Holy Mother of God, Asen's Fortress

Asen's Fortress

Bulgaria

1100–1200

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Medieval Eastern Orthodox church located in Asen's Fortress. It lies near Asenovgrad in the Rhodope Mountains of Plovdiv Province, south central Bulgaria. Constructed most likely in the 12th century, it features two stories, of which the upper story is the church proper and the lower story is of unclear function. The rectangular tower over the church's narthex is regarded as the earliest preserved of its kind in the Balkans. Fragments of frescoes are visible on the walls of the church's upper story.

Church of St Demetrius of Thessaloniki, Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo

Bulgaria

1185

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Medieval Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in central northern Bulgaria, the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The church lies at the northeastern foot of the Trapezitsa and Tsarevets hills, on the right bank of the Yantra River, outside the city's medieval fortifications. Architecturally, it has a pentahedral apse and a cross-domed design with a narthex and a fore-apse space. It was once part of a large monastery and belonged in its southeastern part. The church's exterior is decorated with blind arches and colourful ornaments: glazed rosettes, suns, rhombs and other painted figures. The church was built of stone alternated with three rows of bricks. It is 15.75 by 8.40 metres (51.7 ft × 27.6 ft) in size. The church was the place where the anti-Byzantine Uprising of Asen and Peter was proclaimed in 1185; it was this uprising that led to the reestablishment of the Bulgarian Empire and the proclamation of Tarnovo for its capital.[59][circular reference]

Holy Forty Martyrs Church, Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo

Bulgaria

1230

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Medieval Eastern Orthodox church constructed in 1230 in the town of Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria, the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The Holy Forty Martyrs Church, an elongated six-columned basilica, has three semicircular apses and a narrow narthex from the west. Another building was added later to the west side of the church. The church interior was covered with mural painting probably in 1230. On the western addition some of the outer decoration survived revealing the traditional arches and coloured small ceramic plates inserted into the wall. It is not clear if the church has frescoes painted on the outer walls. Some of the Bulgarian Empire's most significant historical records are stored in the church, including Omurtag's Column, Asen's Column and the Border Column from Rodosto from the rule of Khan Krum.[60][circular reference]

St. Michael's Church

Vienna

Austria

1220–1240

Roman Catholic

One of the oldest churches in Vienna, Austria, and also one of its few remaining Romanesque buildings. Dedicated to the Archangel Michael, St. Michael's Church is located at Michaelerplatz across from St. Michael's Gate at the Hofburg Palace.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo

Bulgaria

1218–1241

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in central northern Bulgaria, the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The 13th-century church lies at the foot of the Tsarevets hill's northern slopes and was reconstructed in 1981. The church is dedicated to the Christian Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It follows the cross-domed design and has a single apse. The cella is divided into three naves by two rows of columns. The columns' capitals are decorated with plastic carving and tracery. The church has a high, massive iconostasis. According to the 14th-century account of Patriarch Evtimiy, the church and the surrounding monastery were built on the order of Tsar Ivan Asen II's (ruled 1218–1241) wife Anna.[61][circular reference]

Ascension Cathedral (Veliko Tarnovo)

Veliko Tarnovo

Bulgaria

1331–1371

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Reconstructed Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the city of Veliko Tarnovo, in north central Bulgaria. Located on top of the fortified Tsarevets hill in the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the cathedral was the seat of the Bulgarian patriarch from its construction in the 11th–12th century to its destruction in 1393. Standing on top of a late Roman church, the cathedral, reconstructed in the 1970s and 1980s, follows a cross-domed plan with a bell tower and a triple apse. Richly decorated on both the exterior and interior, its internal walls now feature modern frescoes, the presence of which has meant that it has not been reconsecrated. Though not active as a Christian place of worship, it has been open for visitors since 1985.[62][circular reference]

Church of Christ Pantocrator, Nesebar

Nesebar

Bulgaria

1331–1371

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Medieval Eastern Orthodox church in the eastern Bulgarian town of Nesebar (medieval Mesembria), on the Black Sea coast of Burgas Province. Part of the Ancient Nesebar UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Church of Christ Pantocrator was constructed in the 13th–14th century and is best known for its lavish exterior decoration. The church, today an art gallery, survives largely intact and is among Bulgaria's best preserved churches of the Middle Ages.[63][64][circular reference]

Church of Saint Paraskevi, Nesebar

Nesebar

Bulgaria

1331–1371

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Partially preserved medieval Eastern Orthodox church in Nesebar (medieval Mesembria), a town on the Black Sea coast of Burgas Province in eastern Bulgaria. It was most likely built in the 13th or 14th century and forms part of the Ancient Nesebar UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Church of Saint Paraskevi features a single nave and a pentagonal apse as well as rich exterior decoration. Its dome and the belfry surmounting the narthex have not been preserved today, and it is unknown which of the three saints named Paraskevi it was dedicated to.[65][circular reference]

Taking into account the following table and the passages listed below.

Answer the following question: What is the name of the building whose location 's city 's Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Base your answer solely on the given information.

The Church of Our Lady ( Danish : Vor Frue Kirke ) is one of the largest churches of Århus , Denmark . It is situated in the centre of the city not far from Aarhus Cathedral ( Århus Domkirke ) . The church 's crypt contains a stone church dating to 1060 AD .
Aarhus ( /ˈɔːrhuːs/ , also US : /ˈɑːr-/ , Danish : [ ˈɒːˌhuˀs ] ( listen ) ; officially spelled Århus from 1948 until 1 January 2011 ) [ note 1 ] is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus municipality . It is located on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula , in the geographical centre of Denmark , 187 kilometres ( 116 mi ) northwest of Copenhagen and 289 kilometres ( 180 mi ) north of Hamburg , Germany . The inner urban area contains 273,077 inhabitants ( as of 1 January 2018 [ update ] ) and the municipal population is 340,421 ( as of 2018 [ update ] ) . Aarhus is the central city in Business Region Aarhus and in the East Jutland metropolitan area , which had a total population of 1.378 million in 2016 . The history of Aarhus began as a fortified Viking settlement founded in the 8th century and with the first written records stemming from the bishopric seated here from at least 948 . The city was founded on the northern shores of a fjord at a natural harbour and the primary driver of growth was for centuries seaborne trade in agricultural products . Market town privileges were granted in 1441 , but growth stagnated in the 17th century as the city suffered blockades and bombardments during the Swedish Wars . In the 19th century it was occupied twice by German troops during the Schleswig Wars but avoided destruction . As the industrial revolution took hold , the city grew to become the second-largest in the country by the 20th century . Today , Aarhus is at the cultural and economic core of the region and the largest centre for trade , services , industry , and tourism in Jutland . The city ranks as the 92nd largest city in the European Union , and as number 234 among world cities . It is also a top 100 conference city in the world .
Pisa Cathedral ( Italian : Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale di Santa Maria Assunta ; Duomo di Pisa ) is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary , in the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa , Italy . It is a notable example of Romanesque architecture , in particular the style known as Pisan Romanesque . It is the seat of the Archbishop of Pisa .
Pisa ( /ˈpiːzə/ PEE-zə , Italian : [ ˈpiːza ] ( listen ) or [ ˈpiːsa ] ) is a city and comune in Tuscany , central Italy , straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea . It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa . Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower ( the bell tower of the city 's cathedral ) , the city of over 91,104 residents ( around 200,000 with the metropolitan area ) contains more than 20 other historic churches , several medieval palaces , and various bridges across the Arno . Much of the city 's architecture was financed from its history as one of the Italian maritime republics . The city is also home of the University of Pisa , which has a history going back to the 12th century and also has the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa , founded by Napoleon in 1810 , and its offshoot , the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies , as the best-sanctioned Superior Graduate Schools in Italy .
Primate ( English : /ˈpraɪmət/ ) is a title or rank bestowed on some archbishops in certain Christian churches . Depending on the particular tradition , it can denote either jurisdictional authority ( title of authority ) or ( usually ) ceremonial precedence ( title of honour ) .
The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral ( Spanish and Galician : Catedral de Santiago de Compostela ) is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela and is an integral component of the Santiago de Compostela World Heritage Site in Galicia , Spain . The cathedral is the reputed burial place of Saint James the Great , the apostle of Jesus Christ . It is also one of the only three known churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus , the other two being St. Peter 's Basilica in Vatican City and St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica , Chennai in India . The cathedral has historically been a place of pilgrimage on the Way of St. James since the Early Middle Ages and marks the traditional end of the pilgrimage route . The building is a Romanesque structure , with later Gothic and Baroque additions .
Santiago de Compostela [ a ] ( or Saint James of Compostella in English ) is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia , in northwestern Spain . The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great , now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela , as the destination of the Way of St. James , a leading Catholic pilgrimage route since the 9th century . In 1985 , the city 's Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
James the Great also known as James , son of Zebedee or as Saint James the Greater was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament . James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus . The Synoptic Gospels say that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him . Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and , according to tradition , his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia .
The Church of the Holy Mother of God ( Bulgarian : църква Света Богородица , tsarkva Sveta Bogoroditsa ) is the popular name of a medieval Eastern Orthodox church located in Asen 's Fortress . It lies near Asenovgrad in the Rhodope Mountains of Plovdiv Province , south central Bulgaria . Constructed most likely in the 12th century , it features two stories , of which the upper story is the church proper and the lower story is of unclear function . The rectangular tower over the church 's narthex is regarded as the earliest preserved of its kind in the Balkans . Fragments of frescoes are visible on the walls of the church 's upper story .
Asen 's Fortress ( Bulgarian : Асенова крепост , Asenova krepost ) , identified by some researchers as Petrich ( Петрич ) , is a medieval fortress in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains , 2 to 3 kilometres ( 1.2 to 1.9 mi ) south of the town of Asenovgrad , on a high rocky ridge on the left bank of the Asenitsa River . Asen 's Fortress is 279 metres ( 915 ft ) above sea level .
Bulgaria ( /bʌlˈɡɛəriə , bʊl-/ ( listen ) ; Bulgarian : България , romanized : Balgariya ) , officially the Republic of Bulgaria ( Bulgarian : Република България , romanized : Republika Balgariya , IPA : [ rɛˈpublikɐ bɐɫˈɡarijɐ ] ) , is a country in Southeast Europe . It is bordered by Romania to the north , Serbia and North Macedonia to the west , Greece and Turkey to the south , and the Black Sea to the east . The capital and largest city is Sofia ; other major cities are Plovdiv , Varna and Burgas . With a territory of 110,994 square kilometres ( 42,855 sq mi ) , Bulgaria is Europe 's 16th-largest country . One of the earliest societies in the lands of modern-day Bulgaria was the Neolithic Karanovo culture , which dates back to 6,500 BC . In the 6th to 3rd century BC the region was a battleground for Thracians , Persians , Celts and ancient Macedonians ; stability came when the Roman Empire conquered the region in AD 45 . The Eastern Roman , or Byzantine , Empire lost some of these territories to an invading Bulgar horde in the late 7th century . The Bulgars founded the First Bulgarian Empire in AD 681 , which dominated most of the Balkans and significantly influenced Slavic cultures by developing the Cyrillic script . This state lasted until the early 11th century , when Byzantine emperor Basil II conquered and dismantled it . A successful Bulgarian revolt in 1185 established a Second Bulgarian Empire , which reached its apex under Ivan Asen II ( 1218-1241 ) . After numerous exhausting wars and feudal strife , the Second Bulgarian Empire disintegrated in 1396 and its territories fell under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries . The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 resulted in the formation of the current Third Bulgarian State .
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church ( Bulgarian : Българска православна църква , romanized : Balgarska pravoslavna tsarkva ) , legally the Patriarchate of Bulgaria ( Bulgarian : Българска патриаршия , romanized : Balgarska patriarshiya ) , is an autocephalous Orthodox Church . It is the oldest Slavic Orthodox Church with some 6 million members in the Republic of Bulgaria and between 1.5 and 2.0 million members in a number of European countries , the Americas , Australia , New Zealand and Asia . It was recognized as autocephalous Church by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in AD 870 , becoming Patriarchate in 918/919 ( officially recognized in 927 ) .
In the history of Europe , the Middle Ages ( or medieval period ) lasted from the 5th to the 15th century . It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery . The Middle Ages is the middle period of the three traditional divisions of Western history : classical antiquity , the medieval period , and the modern period . The medieval period is itself subdivided into the Early , High , and Late Middle Ages . Population decline , counterurbanisation , collapse of centralized authority , invasions , and mass migrations of tribes , which had begun in Late Antiquity , continued in the Early Middle Ages . The large-scale movements of the Migration Period , including various Germanic peoples , formed new kingdoms in what remained of the Western Roman Empire . In the 7th century , North Africa and the Middle East - once part of the Byzantine Empire - came under the rule of the Umayyad Caliphate , an Islamic empire , after conquest by Muhammad 's successors . Although there were substantial changes in society and political structures , the break with classical antiquity was not complete . The still-sizeable Byzantine Empire , Rome 's direct continuation , survived in the Eastern Mediterranean and remained a major power . The empire 's law code , the Corpus Juris Civilis or Code of Justinian , was rediscovered in Northern Italy in 1070 and became widely admired later in the Middle Ages . In the West , most kingdoms incorporated the few extant Roman institutions . Monasteries were founded as campaigns to Christianise pagan Europe continued .
The Eastern Orthodox Church , officially the Orthodox Catholic Church , is the second-largest Christian church , with approximately 260 million baptised members . It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches , each governed by its bishops in local synods . Roughly half of Eastern Orthodox Christians live in Russia . The church has no central doctrinal or governmental authority analogous to the Bishop of Rome , but the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised by all as primus inter pares ( first among equals ) of the bishops . As one of the oldest surviving religious institutions in the world , the Eastern Orthodox Church has played a prominent role in the history and culture of Eastern and Southeastern Europe , the Caucasus , and the Near East . Eastern Orthodox theology is based on the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed ( known simply as the Nicene Creed ) . The church teaches that it is the One , Holy , Catholic and Apostolic church established by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission , and that its bishops are the successors of Christ 's apostles . It maintains that it practices the original Christian faith , as passed down by holy tradition . Its patriarchates , reminiscent of the pentarchy , and autocephalous and autonomous churches reflect a variety of hierarchical organisation . It recognises seven major sacraments , of which the Eucharist is the principal one , celebrated liturgically in synaxis . The church teaches that through consecration invoked by a priest , the sacrificial bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ . The Virgin Mary is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the God-bearer , honoured in devotions .
Asenovgrad ( Bulgarian : Асеновград , until 1934 Stanimaka , Bulgarian : Станимака ; Greek : Στενήμαχος ) is a town in central southern Bulgaria , part of Plovdiv Province . It is the largest town in Bulgaria that is not a province center . In 1934 it was renamed in honor of Tsar Ivan Assen II of Asenovgrad . Asenovgrad also includes the districts of Gorni Voden and Dolni Voden , which until 1986 were separate villages . According to NSI data , as of December 31 , 2015 the population of the city is 49 510 people , which puts Asenovgrad on the 19th largest place in the country . Above the town are the remains of the Assen Fortress , an old fortress that was strengthened under Tsar Ivan Assen II and turned into an important military post in the defense of the southern borders of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom . The city is known for its many churches , monasteries and chapels and is often called Little Jerusalem . It is also known as the City of Bridal Gowns because of the large number of ateliers and shops for wedding dresses and accessories . The majority of Asenovgrad residents are Bulgarians , with representatives of the Turkish and Gypsy ethnic groups in the city .
The Rhodopes ( /ˈrɒdəpiːz/ ; Bulgarian : Родопи , Rodopi ; Greek : Ροδόπη , Rodopi ; Turkish : Rodoplar ) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe , with over 83% of its area in southern Bulgaria and the remainder in Greece . Golyam Perelik is its highest peak at 2,191 meters ( 7,188 ft ) . The mountain range gives its name to the terrestrial ecoregion Rodope montane mixed forests that belongs in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome and the palearctic ecozone . The region is particularly notable for its karst areas with their deep river gorges , large caves and specific sculptured forms , such as the Trigrad Gorge . A significant part of Bulgaria 's hydropower resources are located in the western areas of the range . There are a number of hydro-cascades and dams used for electricity production , irrigation and as tourist destinations . In Greece there are also the HPPs of Thisavros and Platanovrysi . The Rhodopes have a rich cultural heritage including ancient Thracian sites such as Perperikon , Tatul and Belintash , and medieval castles , churches , monasteries and picturesque villages with traditional Bulgarian architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries .
Plovdiv Province ( Bulgarian : Област Пловдив : Oblast Plovdiv , former name Plovdiv okrug ) is a province in central southern Bulgaria . It comprises 18 municipalities ( общини , obshtini , sing . общинa , obshtina ) on a territory of 5,972.9 km2 ( 2,306.1 sq mi ) with a population , as of February 2011 , of 683,027 inhabitants . The province is named after its administrative and industrial centre - the city of Plovdiv .
The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area , located at the west end of the nave , opposite the church 's main altar . Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building , but was not considered part of the church proper . In early Christian churches the narthex was often divided into two distinct parts : an esonarthex ( inner narthex ) , between the west wall and the body of the church proper , separated from the nave and aisles by a wall , arcade , colonnade , screen , or rail , and an external closed space , the exonarthex ( outer narthex ) , a court in front of the church facade delimited on all sides by a colonnade as in the first St. Peter 's Basilica in Rome or in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan . The exonarthex may have been either open or enclosed , with a door leading to the outside as in the Byzantine Chora Church . By extension , the narthex can also denote a covered porch or entrance to a building .
The Balkans /ˈbɔːlkənz/ BAWL-kənz , also known as the Balkan Peninsula , is a geographic area in Southeast Europe with various definitions and meanings , including geopolitical and historical . The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the whole of Bulgaria from the Serbian-Bulgarian border to the Black Sea coast . The Balkan Peninsula is bordered by the Adriatic Sea in the northwest , the Ionian Sea in the southwest , the Aegean Sea in the south , the Turkish Straits in the east , and the Black Sea in the northeast . The northern border of the peninsula is variously defined . The highest point of the Balkans is Mount Musala , 2,925 metres ( 9,596 ft ) , in the Rila mountain range , Bulgaria . The concept of the Balkan peninsula was created by the German geographer August Zeune in 1808 , who mistakenly considered the Balkan Mountains the dominant mountain system of Southeast Europe spanning from the Adriatic Sea to the Black Sea . The term of Balkan Peninsula was a synonym for Rumelia ( European Turkey ) in the 19th century , the former provinces of the Ottoman Empire in Southeast Europe . It had a geopolitical rather than a geographical definition , further promoted during the creation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in the early 20th century . The definition of the Balkan peninsula 's natural borders do not coincide with the technical definition of a peninsula and hence modern geographers reject the idea of a Balkan peninsula , while scholars usually discuss the Balkans as a region . The term has acquired a stigmatized and pejorative meaning related to the process of Balkanization , and hence the preferred alternative term used for the region is Southeast Europe .
The Church of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki ( Bulgarian : църква Св . Димитър Солунски , tsarkva Sv . Dimitar Solunski ) is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in central northern Bulgaria , the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire .
Veliko Tarnovo ( Bulgarian : Велико Търново , romanized : Veliko Tǎrnovo , pronounced [ vɛˈliko ˈtɤrnovo ] ; Great Tarnovo ) is a town in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province . Often referred as the City of the Tsars , Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famously known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom , attracting many tourists with its unique architecture . The old part of the town is situated on three hills , Tsarevets , Trapezitsa , and Sveta Gora , rising amidst the meanders of the Yantra . On Tsarevets are the palaces of the Bulgarian emperors and the Patriarchate , the Patriarchal Cathedral , and also a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls . Trapezitsa is known for its many churches and as the former main residence of the nobility . During the Middle Ages , the town was among the main European centres of culture and gave its name to the architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School , painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School , and to literature . Veliko Tarnovo is an important administrative , economic , educational , and cultural centre of Northern Bulgaria .
The Second Bulgarian Empire ( Bulgarian : Второ българско царство , Vtorо Bălgarskо Tsarstvo ) was a medieval Bulgarian state that existed between 1185 and 1396 . A successor to the First Bulgarian Empire , it reached the peak of its power under Tsars Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before gradually being conquered by the Ottomans in the late 14th and early 15th centuries . It was succeeded by the Principality and later Kingdom of Bulgaria in 1878 . Until 1256 , the Second Bulgarian Empire was the dominant power in the Balkans , defeating the Byzantine Empire in several major battles . In 1205 Emperor Kaloyan defeated the newly established Latin Empire in the Battle of Adrianople . His nephew Ivan Asen II defeated the Despotate of Epiros and made Bulgaria a regional power again . During his reign , Bulgaria spread from the Adriatic to the Black Sea and the economy flourished . In the late 13th century , however , the Empire declined under constant invasions by Mongols , Byzantines , Hungarians , and Serbs , as well as internal unrest and revolts . The 14th century saw a temporary recovery and stability , but also the peak of Balkan feudalism as central authorities gradually lost power in many regions . Bulgaria was divided into three parts on the eve of the Ottoman invasion . Despite strong Byzantine influence , Bulgarian artists and architects created their own distinctive style . In the 14th century , during the period known as the Second Golden Age of Bulgarian culture , literature , art and architecture flourished .
Tsarevets ( Bulgarian : Царевец , romanized : Carevec ) is a medieval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria . Tsarevets is 206 metres ( 676 ft ) above sea level . It served as the Second Bulgarian Empire 's primary fortress and strongest bulwark between 1185 and 1393 , housing the royal and the patriarchal palaces , and it is also a popular tourist attraction .
The Yantra ( Bulgarian : Я̀нтра ) is a river in northern Bulgaria , a right tributary of the Danube . It is 285 km ( 177 mi ) long ( the third longest Bulgarian tributary of the Danube , after Iskar and Osam ) , and has a watershed of 7,862 km2 ( 3,036 sq mi ) .
In geometry , a pentahedron ( plural : pentahedra ) is a polyhedron with five faces or sides . There are no face-transitive polyhedra with five sides and there are two distinct topological types . With regular polygon faces , the two topological forms are the square pyramid and triangular prism .
In architecture , an apse ( plural apses ; from Latin absis : arch , vault from Greek ἀψίς apsis arch ; sometimes written apsis , plural apsides ) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome , also known as an exedra . In Byzantine , Romanesque , and Gothic Christian church ( including cathedral and abbey ) architecture , the term is applied to a semi-circular or polygonal termination of the main building at the liturgical east end ( where the altar is ) , regardless of the shape of the roof , which may be flat , sloping , domed , or hemispherical . Smaller apses may also be in other locations , especially shrines .
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics , monks or nuns , whether living in communities or alone ( hermits ) . A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which may be a chapel , church , or temple , and may also serve as an oratory , or in the case of communities anything from a single building housing only one senior and two or three junior monks or nuns , to vast complexes and estates housing tens or hundreds . A monastery complex typically comprises a number of buildings which include a church , dormitory , cloister , refectory , library , balneary and infirmary . Depending on the location , the monastic order and the occupation of its inhabitants , the complex may also include a wide range of buildings that facilitate self-sufficiency and service to the community . These may include a hospice , a school , and a range of agricultural and manufacturing buildings such as a barn , a forge , or a brewery . In English usage , the term monastery is generally used to denote the buildings of a community of monks . In modern usage , convent tends to be applied only to institutions of female monastics ( nuns ) , particularly communities of teaching or nursing religious sisters . Historically , a convent denoted a house of friars ( reflecting the Latin ) , now more commonly called a friary . Various religions may apply these terms in more specific ways .
A blind arch is an arch found in the wall of a building that has been infilled with solid construction and so can not serve as a passageway , door or window . The term is most often associated with masonry wall construction , but blind arches are also found ( or simulated ) in other types of construction such as light frame construction . Some blind arches were originally built as open arches and infilled later . Others were originally built with solid infill as intentional stylistic elements .
A rosette is a round , stylized flower design .
A rock is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter . It is categorized by the minerals included , its chemical composition and the way in which it is formed . Rocks are usually grouped into three main groups : igneous rocks , metamorphic rocks and sedimentary rocks . Rocks form the Earth 's outer solid layer , the crust . Igneous rocks are formed when magma cools in the Earth 's crust , or lava cools on the ground surface or the seabed . The metamorphic rocks are formed when existing rocks are subjected to such large pressures and temperatures that they are transformed - something that occurs , for example , when continental plates collide . The sedimentary rocks are formed by diagenesis or lithification of sediments , which in turn are formed by the weathering , transport , and deposition of existing rocks . The scientific study of rocks is called petrology , which is an essential component of geology .
A brick is building material used to make walls , pavements and other elements in masonry construction . Traditionally , the term brick referred to a unit composed of clay , but it is now used to denote rectangular units made of clay-bearing soil , sand , and lime , or concrete materials . Bricks can be joined together using mortar , adhesives or by interlocking them . Bricks are produced in numerous classes , types , materials , and sizes which vary with region and time period , and are produced in bulk quantities . Two basic categories of bricks are fired and non-fired bricks . Block is a similar term referring to a rectangular building unit composed of similar materials , but is usually larger than a brick . Lightweight bricks ( also called lightweight blocks ) are made from expanded clay aggregate . Fired bricks are one of the longest-lasting and strongest building materials , sometimes referred to as artificial stone , and have been used since circa 4000 BC . Air-dried bricks , also known as mudbricks , have a history older than fired bricks , and have an additional ingredient of a mechanical binder such as straw . Bricks are laid in courses and numerous patterns known as bonds , collectively known as brickwork , and may be laid in various kinds of mortar to hold the bricks together to make a durable structure .
The Byzantine Empire , also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire , or Byzantium , was the continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages , when its capital city was Constantinople ( modern Istanbul , formerly Byzantium ) . It survived the fragmentation and fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD and continued to exist for an additional thousand years until it fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 . During most of its existence , the empire was the most powerful economic , cultural and military force in Europe . Byzantine Empire is a term created after the end of the realm ; its citizens continued to refer to their empire simply as the Roman Empire ( Greek : Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων , tr . Basileia Rhōmaiōn ; Latin : Imperium Romanum ) , or Romania ( Ῥωμανία ) , and to themselves as Romans . Several signal events from the 4th to 6th centuries mark the period of transition during which the Roman Empire 's Greek East and Latin West diverged . Constantine I ( r. 324-337 ) reorganised the empire , made Constantinople the new capital and legalised Christianity . Under Theodosius I ( r. 379-395 ) , Christianity became the state religion and other religious practices were proscribed . In the reign of Heraclius ( r. 610-641 ) , the Empire 's military and administration were restructured and adopted Greek for official use in place of Latin . Although the Roman state continued and its traditions were maintained , modern historians distinguish Byzantium from ancient Rome insofar as it was centred on Constantinople , oriented towards Greek rather than Latin culture and characterised by Eastern Orthodox Christianity . The borders of the empire fluctuated through cycles of decline and recovery . During the reign of Justinian I ( r. 527-565 ) , the empire reached its greatest extent , after reconquering much of the historically Roman western Mediterranean coast , including North Africa , Italy and Rome , which it held for two more centuries .
The Uprising of Asen and Peter ( Bulgarian : Въстание на Асен и Петър ) was a revolt of Bulgarians and Vlachs living in Moesia and the Balkan Mountains , then the theme of Paristrion of the Byzantine Empire , caused by a tax increase . It began on 26 October 1185 , the feast day of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki , and ended with the restoration of Bulgaria with the creation of the Second Bulgarian Empire , ruled by the Asen dynasty . Isaac II Angelus , in order to raise money for his wedding with the daughter of King Béla III of Hungary , levied a new tax which fell heavily on the population of the Haemus Mountains . They sent two leaders ( Peter and Asen ) to negotiate with the emperor at Kypsella ( now İpsala ) in Thrace . They asked to be added to the roll of the Byzantine army and to be granted land near Haemus to provide the monetary income needed to pay the tax . This was refused , and Peter and Asen were treated roughly . Their response was to threaten revolt . After their return , many of the protesters were unwilling to join the rebellion . The brothers Peter and Asen built the Church of St Demetrius of Thessaloniki in Tarnovo , dedicated to Saint Demetrius , who was traditionally considered a patron of the Byzantine city of Thessaloniki , and claimed that the Saint had ceased to favour the Byzantines : God had decided to free the Bulgarians and the Vlach people and to lift the yoke that they had borne for so long . This persuaded their followers to attack Byzantine cities , seizing prisoners and cattle . Preslav , capital of the First Bulgarian Empire , was raided , and it was after this symbolic incident that Peter assumed the insignia of Tsar ( or Emperor ) . In the spring of 1186 , Isaac started a counter-offensive .
In the medieval history of Europe , Bulgaria 's status as the Bulgarian Empire ( Bulgarian : Българско царство , Balgarsko tsarstvo [ ˈbəlɡɐrskʊ ˈt͡sarstvʊ ] ) , wherein it acted as a key regional power ( particularly rivaling Byzantium in Southeastern Europe ) occurred in two distinct periods : between the seventh and eleventh centuries , and again between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries . The two Bulgarian Empires are not treated as separate entities , but rather as one state restored after a period of Byzantine rule over its territory .
The Holy Forty Martyrs Church ( Bulgarian : църква Св . Четиридесет мъченици , tsarkva Sv . Chetirideset machenitsi ) is a medieval Eastern Orthodox church constructed in 1230 in the town of Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria , the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire . The Holy Forty Martyrs Church , an elongated six-columned basilica , has three semicircular apses and a narrow narthex from the west . Another building was added later to the west side of the church . The church interior was covered with mural painting probably in 1230 . On the western addition some of the outer decoration survived revealing the traditional arches and coloured small ceramic plates inserted into the wall . It is not clear if the church has frescoes painted on the outer walls .
The Eastern Orthodox Church , officially the Orthodox Catholic Church , is the second-largest Christian church , with approximately 260 million baptised members . It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches , each governed by its bishops in local synods . Roughly half of Eastern Orthodox Christians live in Russia . The church has no central doctrinal or governmental authority analogous to the Bishop of Rome , but the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised by all as primus inter pares ( first among equals ) of the bishops . As one of the oldest surviving religious institutions in the world , the Eastern Orthodox Church has played a prominent role in the history and culture of Eastern and Southeastern Europe , the Caucasus , and the Near East . Eastern Orthodox theology is based on the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed ( known simply as the Nicene Creed ) . The church teaches that it is the One , Holy , Catholic and Apostolic church established by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission , and that its bishops are the successors of Christ 's apostles . It maintains that it practices the original Christian faith , as passed down by holy tradition . Its patriarchates , reminiscent of the pentarchy , and autocephalous and autonomous churches reflect a variety of hierarchical organisation . It recognises seven major sacraments , of which the Eucharist is the principal one , celebrated liturgically in synaxis . The church teaches that through consecration invoked by a priest , the sacrificial bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ . The Virgin Mary is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the God-bearer , honoured in devotions .
The Latin word basilica ( derived from Greek : βασιλική στοά , Royal Stoa , the tribunal chamber of a king ) has three distinct applications in modern English . Originally , the word was used to refer to an ancient Roman public building , where courts were held , as well as serving other official and public functions . It usually had the door at one end and a slightly raised platform and an apse at the other , where the magistrate or other officials were seated . The basilica was centrally located in every Roman town , usually adjacent to the main forum . Subsequently , the basilica was not built near a forum but adjacent to a palace and was known as a palace basilica . Secondly , as the Roman Empire adopted Christianity , the major church buildings were typically constructed with this basic architectural plan and thus it became popular throughout Europe . It continues to be used in an architectural sense to describe rectangular buildings with a central nave and aisles , and usually a raised platform at the opposite end from the door . In Europe and the Americas the basilica remained the most common architectural style for churches of all Christian denominations , though this building plan has become less dominant in new buildings since the latter 20th century . Thirdly , the term refers to an official designation of a certain kind of church in the Roman Catholic Church : a large and important place of worship that has been given special ceremonial rights by the Pope , whatever its architectural plan . These are divided into : major basilicas - numbering only four , all of which are ancient churches located within Rome - and minor basilicas - found all around the world and which , as of 2019 [ update ] , number 1,810 . These major and minor basilicas are commonly simply referred to as basilicas . Some Catholic basilicas are Catholic pilgrimage sites , receiving tens of millions of visitors per year .
Omurtag ( or Omortag ) ( Bulgarian : Омуртаг ; original Greek : Μορτάγων and Ομουρτάγ ) was a Great Khan ( Kanasubigi ) of Bulgaria from 814 to 831 . He is known as the Builder . In the very beginning of his reign he signed a 30-year peace treaty with the neighboring Eastern Roman Empire which remained in force to the end of his life . Omurtag successfully coped with the aggressive policy of the Frankish Empire to take Bulgaria 's north-western lands and suppressed the unrest among several Slavic tribes . He made administrative reforms which increased the power and the authority of the central government . His reign was marked with a strong development of Bulgarian architecture with a number of significant construction projects .
The Battle of Klokotnitsa ( Bulgarian : Битката при Клокотница , Bitkata pri Klokotnitsa ) occurred on 9 March 1230 near the village of Klokotnitsa ( today in Haskovo Province , Bulgaria ) . As a result , the Second Bulgarian Empire emerged once again as the most powerful state in South-Eastern Europe . Nevertheless Bulgarian power was soon to be contested and surpassed by the rising Empire of Nicaea .
Tekirdağ ( pronounced [ teˈciɾdaː ] ; see also its other names ) is a city in Turkey . It is a part of the region historically known as Eastern Thrace.The city population as of 2016 [ update ] is 937.910 There are honorary consulates of Greece and Bulgaria in Tekirdağ .
Krum ( Bulgarian : Крум , Greek : Κρούμος/Kroumos ) [ A ] , often referred to as Krum the Fearsome ( Bulgarian : Крум Страшни ) was the Khan of Bulgaria from sometime between 796 and 803 until his death in 814 . During his reign the Bulgarian territory doubled in size , spreading from the middle Danube to the Dnieper and from Odrin to the Tatra Mountains . His able and energetic rule brought law and order to Bulgaria and developed the rudiments of state organization .
Saint Michael 's Church ( German : Michaelerkirche ) is one of the oldest churches in Vienna , Austria , and also one of its few remaining Romanesque buildings . Dedicated to the Archangel Michael , St. Michael 's Church is located at Michaelerplatz across from St. Michael 's Gate at the Hofburg Palace . St. Michael 's used to be the parish church of the Imperial Court , when it was called Zum heiligen Michael . Over its long history , spanning more than eight centuries , the church has incorporated a medley of architectonic styles . The church is a late Romanesque , early Gothic building dating from about 1220-1240 . There is a document giving 1221 as the foundation date of the church , but this is most probably a 14th-century forgery . Over time , there have been many alterations , resulting in its present-day aspect , unchanged since 1792 .
Vienna ( /viˈɛnə/ ( listen ) ; German : Wien [ viːn ] ( listen ) ) is the national capital , largest city , and one of nine states of Austria . Vienna is Austria 's most populous city , with about 1.9 million inhabitants ( 2.6 million within the metropolitan area , nearly one third of the country 's population ) , and its cultural , economic , and political centre . It is the 6th-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union . Until the beginning of the 20th century , it was the largest German-speaking city in the world , and before the splitting of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I , the city had 2 million inhabitants . Today , it is the second-largest German-speaking city after Berlin . Vienna is host to many major international organizations , including the United Nations , OPEC , and the OSCE . The city is located in the eastern part of Austria and is close to the borders of Czechia , Slovakia , and Hungary . These regions work together in a European Centrope border region . Along with nearby Bratislava , Vienna forms a metropolitan region with 3 million inhabitants . In 2001 , the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site . In July 2017 it was moved to the list of World Heritage in Danger . Additionally to being known as the City of Music due to its musical legacy , Vienna is also said to be the City of Dreams , because of it being home to the world 's first psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud .
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul ( Bulgarian : църква Св . св . Петър и Павел , tsarkva Sv . sv . Petar i Pavel ) is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in central northern Bulgaria , the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire . The 13th-century church lies at the foot of the Tsarevets hill 's northern slopes and was reconstructed in 1981 . The church is dedicated to the Christian Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul . It follows the cross-domed design and has a single apse . The cella is divided into three naves by two rows of columns . The columns ' capitals are decorated with plastic carving and tracery . The church has a high , massive iconostasis . According to the 14th-century account of Patriarch Evtimiy , the church and the surrounding monastery were built on the order of Tsar Ivan Asen II 's ( ruled 1218-1241 ) wife Anna .
In the history of Europe , the Middle Ages ( or medieval period ) lasted from the 5th to the 15th century . It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery . The Middle Ages is the middle period of the three traditional divisions of Western history : classical antiquity , the medieval period , and the modern period . The medieval period is itself subdivided into the Early , High , and Late Middle Ages . Population decline , counterurbanisation , collapse of centralized authority , invasions , and mass migrations of tribes , which had begun in Late Antiquity , continued in the Early Middle Ages . The large-scale movements of the Migration Period , including various Germanic peoples , formed new kingdoms in what remained of the Western Roman Empire . In the 7th century , North Africa and the Middle East - once part of the Byzantine Empire - came under the rule of the Umayyad Caliphate , an Islamic empire , after conquest by Muhammad 's successors . Although there were substantial changes in society and political structures , the break with classical antiquity was not complete . The still-sizeable Byzantine Empire , Rome 's direct continuation , survived in the Eastern Mediterranean and remained a major power . The empire 's law code , the Corpus Juris Civilis or Code of Justinian , was rediscovered in Northern Italy in 1070 and became widely admired later in the Middle Ages . In the West , most kingdoms incorporated the few extant Roman institutions . Monasteries were founded as campaigns to Christianise pagan Europe continued .
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth . Its adherents , known as Christians , believe that Jesus is the Christ , whose coming as the messiah was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible , called the Old Testament in Christianity , and chronicled in the New Testament . It is the world 's largest religion with about 2.4 billion followers . Christianity began as a Second Temple Judaic sect in the 1st century in the Roman province of Judea . Jesus ' apostles and their followers spread around Syria , the Levant , Europe , Anatolia , Mesopotamia , Transcaucasia , Egypt , and Ethiopia , despite initial persecution . It soon attracted gentile God-fearers , which led to a departure from Jewish customs , and , after the Fall of Jerusalem , AD 70 which ended the Temple-based Judaism , Christianity slowly separated from Judaism . Emperor Constantine the Great converted to Christianity before his death ( 337 ) , and was baptized by bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia ; Constantine decriminalized Christianity in the Roman Empire by the Edict of Milan ( 313 ) , later convening the Council of Nicaea ( 325 ) where Early Christianity was consolidated into what would become the State church of the Roman Empire ( 380 ) . The early history of Christianity 's united church before major schisms is sometimes referred to as the Great Church . The Church of the East split after the Council of Ephesus ( 431 ) and Oriental Orthodoxy split after the Council of Chalcedon ( 451 ) over differences in Christology , while the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church separated in the East-West Schism ( 1054 ) , especially over the authority of the bishop of Rome . Similarly , Protestantism split in numerous denominations from the Latin Catholic Church in the Reformation era ( 16th century ) over theological and ecclesiological disputes , most predominantly on the issue of justification and the primacy of the bishop of Rome . Following the Age of Discovery ( 15th-17th century ) , Christianity was spread into the Americas , Oceania , sub-Saharan Africa , and the rest of the world via missionary work . Christianity remains culturally diverse in its Western and Eastern branches , as well as in its doctrines concerning justification and the nature of salvation , ecclesiology , ordination , and Christology .
In Christian theology and ecclesiology , apostles , particularly the Twelve Apostles ( also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve ) , were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament . In addition to Christian theology , Islamic theology also acknowledges the apostles in the Quran . During the life and ministry of Jesus in the 1st century AD , the apostles were his closest followers and became the primary teachers of the gospel message of Jesus . While Christian tradition often refers to the apostles as being twelve in number , different gospel writers give different names for the same individual , and apostles mentioned in one gospel are not mentioned in others . There is also an Eastern Christian tradition derived from the Gospel of Luke of there having been as many as 70 apostles during the time of Jesus ' ministry . Paul is often referred to as an apostle , because he was directly taught and commissioned by a vision of Christ ( Acts 9:4-9 ) during his journey to Damascus . The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles during the ministry of Jesus is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels . After his resurrection , Jesus sent eleven of them ( minus Judas Iscariot , who by then had died ) by the Great Commission to spread his teachings to all nations . This event has been called the Dispersion of the Apostles . In modern usage , missionaries under Pentecostal movements often refer to themselves as apostles , a practice which stems from the Latin equivalent of apostle , i.e . missio , the source of the English word missionary . For example , Saint Patrick ( AD 373-463 ) was the Apostle of Ireland , Saint Boniface ( 680-755 ) was the Apostle to the Germans , Saint José de Anchieta ( 1534-1597 ) was the Apostle of Brazil and Saint Peter of Betancur ( 1626-1667 ) was the Apostle of Guatemala .
Saint Peter ( Classical Syriac : ܫܸܡܥܘܿܢ ܟܹ݁ܐܦ݂ܵܐ , romanized : Šemʿōn Kēp̄ā ; Hebrew : שמעון בר יונה , romanized : Šimʿōn bar Yōnāh ; Arabic : سِمعَان بُطرُس , romanized : Simʿa̅n Buṭrus ; Greek : Πέτρος , translit . Petros ; Coptic : Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ , romanized : Petros ; Latin : Petrus ; r. AD 30 ; died between AD 64 and 68 ) , also known as Simon Peter , Simeon , Simon ( /ˈsaɪmən/ ( listen ) ) , Cephas , or Peter the Apostle , was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ , and the first leader of the early Church . According to Christian tradition , Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero . He is traditionally counted as the first Bishop of Rome‍ - ‌or pope‍ - ‌and also by Eastern Christian tradition as the first Patriarch of Antioch . The ancient Christian churches all venerate Peter as a major saint and as the founder of the Church of Antioch and the Roman Church , but differ in their attitudes regarding the authority of his present-day successors ( the primacy of the Bishop of Rome ) . According to Catholic teaching , in Matthew 16:18 Jesus promised Peter a special position in the Church . Two general epistles in the New Testament are ascribed to Peter , but modern scholars generally reject the Petrine authorship of both . The Gospel of Mark was traditionally thought to show the influence of Peter 's preaching and eyewitness memories . Several other books bearing his name‍ - ‌the Acts of Peter , Gospel of Peter , Preaching of Peter , Apocalypse of Peter , and Judgment of Peter‍ - ‌are considered by Christian denominations as apocryphal , and are thus not included in their Bible canons .
Paul the Apostle ( Latin : Paulus ; Greek : Παῦλος , romanized : Paulos ; Coptic : ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ; c. 5 - c. 64 or 67 ) , commonly known as Saint Paul and also known by his Hebrew name Saul of Tarsus ( Hebrew : שאול התרסי , romanized : Sha'ūl ha-Tarsī ; Greek : Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς , romanized : Saũlos Tarseús ) , [ Acts 9:11 ] was an apostle ( although not one of the Twelve Apostles ) who taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world . Paul is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age and from the mid-30s to the mid-50s AD he founded several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe . He took advantage of his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to minister to both Jewish and Roman audiences . According to the New Testament book Acts of the Apostles ( often simply called Acts ) , Paul persecuted some of the early disciples of Jesus , possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Christianity , in the area of Jerusalem prior to his conversion . [ note 1 ] In the narrative of Acts , Paul was traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus on a mission to arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem when the resurrected Jesus appeared to him in a great light . He was struck blind , but after three days his sight was restored by Ananias of Damascus and Paul began to preach that Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah and the Son of God . [ Acts 9:20-9:21 ] Approximately half of the book of Acts deals with Paul 's life and works . Thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament have traditionally been attributed to Paul . Seven of the Pauline epistles are undisputed by scholars as being authentic , with varying degrees of argument about the remainder . Pauline authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews is not asserted in the Epistle itself and was already doubted in the 2nd and 3rd centuries . [ note 2 ] It was almost unquestioningly accepted from the 5th to the 16th centuries that Paul was the author of Hebrews , but that view is now almost universally rejected by scholars . The other six are believed by some scholars to have come from followers writing in his name , using material from Paul 's surviving letters and letters written by him that no longer survive .
A cella ( from Latin for small chamber ) or naos ( from the Greek ναός , temple ) is the inner chamber of an ancient Greek or Roman temple in classical antiquity . Its enclosure within walls has given rise to extended meanings , of a hermit 's or monk 's cell , and since the 17th century , of a biological cell in plants or animals .
The nave /neɪv/ is the central part of a church , stretching from the ( normally western ) main entrance or rear wall , to the transepts , or in a church without transepts , to the chancel . When a church contains side aisles , as in a basilica-type building , the strict definition of the term nave is restricted to the central aisle . In a broader , more colloquial sense , the nave includes all areas available for the lay worshippers , including the side-aisles and transepts . Either way , the nave is distinct from the area reserved for the choir and clergy .
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits , through compression , the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below . In other words , a column is a compression member . The term column applies especially to a large round support ( the shaft of the column ) with a capital and a base or pedestal , which is made of stone , or appearing to be so . A small wooden or metal support is typically called a post , and supports with a rectangular or other non-round section are usually called piers . For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering , columns may be designed to resist lateral forces . Other compression members are often termed columns because of the similar stress conditions . Columns are frequently used to support beams or arches on which the upper parts of walls or ceilings rest . In architecture , column refers to such a structural element that also has certain proportional and decorative features . A column might also be a decorative element not needed for structural purposes ; many columns are engaged , that is to say form part of a wall .
In architecture , tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window . The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors ' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out . There are two main types , plate tracery and the later bar tracery . The evolving style from Romanesque to Gothic architecture and changing features , like the thinning of lateral walls and enlarging of windows lead to the innovation of tracery . The earliest form of tracery , called plate tracery , began as openings that were pierced from a stone slab . Bar tracery was then implemented , having derived from the plate tracery . However instead of a slab , the windows were defined by molded stone mullions which were lighter and allowed for more openings and intricate designs . Other notable styles of tracery to follow include geometrical tracery and curvilinear ( flowing ) tracery .
In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis ( plural : iconostases ) is a wall of icons and religious paintings , separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church . Iconostasis also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church . The iconostasis evolved from the Byzantine templon , a process complete by the 15th century . A direct comparison for the function of the main iconostasis can be made to the layout of the great Temple in Jerusalem . That Temple was designed with three parts . The holiest and inner-most portion was that where the Ark of the Covenant was kept . This portion , the Holy of Holies , was separated from the second larger part of the building 's interior by a curtain , the veil of the temple . Only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies . The third part was the entrance court . This architectural tradition for the two main parts can be seen carried forward in Christian churches and is still most demonstratively present in Eastern Orthodox churches where the iconostasis divides the altar , the Holy of Holies where the Eucharist is performed - the manifestation of the New Covenant - from the larger portion of the church accessible to the faithful . In the Eastern Orthodox tradition only men can enter the altar portion behind the iconostasis . However one will see women serving behind the iconostasis at female monasteries .
Saint Euthymius of Tarnovo ( also Evtimiy ; Bulgarian : Свети Евтимий Търновски , Sveti Evtimiy Tarnovski ) was Patriarch of Bulgaria between 1375 and 1393 . Regarded as one of the most important figures of medieval Bulgaria , Euthymius was the last head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the Second Bulgarian Empire . Arguably the best esteemed of all Bulgarian patriarchs , Euthymius was a supporter of hesychasm and an authoritative figure in the Eastern Orthodox world of the time .
The monarchs of Bulgaria ruled the country during three periods of its history as an independent country : from the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681 to the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria in 1018 ; from the Uprising of Asen and Peter that established the Second Bulgarian Empire in 1185 to the annexation of the rump Bulgarian principality into the Ottoman Empire in 1396 ; and from the re-establishment of an independent Bulgaria in 1878 to the abolition of monarchy in a referendum held on 15 September 1946 . Early Bulgarian rulers possibly used the title Kanasubigi ( Khan ) , later knyaz ( prince ) for a brief period , and subsequently tsar ( emperor ) . The title tsar , the Bulgarian form of the Latin Caesar , was first adopted and used in Bulgaria by Simeon I , following a decisive victory over the Byzantine Empire in 913 . It was also used by all of Simeon I 's successors until the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman rule in 1396 . After Bulgaria 's liberation from the Ottomans in 1878 , its first monarch Alexander I adopted the title knyaz , or prince . However , when de jure independence was proclaimed under his successor Ferdinand in 1908 , the title was elevated to the customary tsar once more . The use of tsar continued under Ferdinand and later under his heirs Boris III and Simeon II until the abolition of monarchy in 1946 . While the title tsar was translated as emperor in the First and Second Bulgarian Empires , it was translated as king in modern Bulgaria . In the few surviving medieval Bulgarian royal charters , the monarchs of Bulgaria styled themselves as In Christ the Lord Faithful Emperor and Autocrat of all Bulgarians or similar variations , sometimes including . and Romans , Greeks , or Vlachs . This list does not include the mythical Bulgar rulers and the rulers of Old Great Bulgaria listed in the Nominalia of the Bulgarian khans as well as unsuccessful claimants to the throne who are not generally listed among the Bulgarian monarchs .
Ivan Asen II , also known as John Asen II or John Asan II ( Bulgarian : Иван Асен II , [ iˈvan ɐˈsɛn ˈftɔri ] ; 1190s - May/June 1241 ) , was emperor ( or tsar ) of Bulgaria from 1218 to 1241 . He was still a child when his father Ivan Asen I-one of the founders of the Second Bulgarian Empire-was killed in 1196 . His supporters tried to secure the throne for him after his uncle , Kaloyan , was murdered in 1207 , but Kaloyan 's other nephew , Boril , overcame them . Ivan Asen fled from Bulgaria and settled in the Rus ' principalities .
The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God ( Bulgarian : Патриаршеска катедрала „ Свето Възнесение Господне , Patriarsheska katedrala „ Sveto Vaznesenie Gospodne ) is a former Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the city of Veliko Tarnovo , in north central Bulgaria . Located on top of the fortified Tsarevets hill in the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire , the cathedral was the seat of the Bulgarian patriarch from its construction in the 11th-12th century to its destruction in 1393 . Standing on top of a late Roman church , the cathedral , reconstructed in the 1970s and 1980s , follows a cross-domed plan with a bell tower and a triple apse . Richly decorated on both the exterior and interior , its internal walls now feature modern frescoes , the presence of which has meant that it has not been reconsecrated . Though not active as a Christian place of worship , it has been open for visitors since 1985 .
The Church of Christ Pantocrator ( Bulgarian : църква „ Христос Пантократор , tsarkva „ Hristos Pantokrator or църква „ Христос Вседържател , tsarkva „ Hristos Vsedarzhatel , Byzantine Greek : Ναός Χριστού Παντοκράτωρος ) is a medieval Eastern Orthodox church in the eastern Bulgarian town of Nesebar ( medieval Mesembria ) , on the Black Sea coast of Burgas Province . Part of the Ancient Nesebar UNESCO World Heritage Site , the Church of Christ Pantocrator was constructed in the 13th-14th century and is best known for its lavish exterior decoration . The church , today an art gallery , survives largely intact and is among Bulgaria 's best preserved churches of the Middle Ages .
Nesebar ( often transcribed as Nessebar and sometimes as Nesebur , Bulgarian : Несебър , pronounced [ nɛˈsɛbɐr ] ) is an ancient city and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast , located in Burgas Province . It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Nesebar Municipality . Often referred to as the Pearl of the Black Sea , Nesebar is a rich city-museum defined by more than three millennia of ever-changing history . The small city exists in two parts separated by a narrow man-made isthmus with the ancient part of the settlement on the peninsula ( previously an island ) , and the more modern section ( i.e . hotels , later development ) on the mainland side . The older part bears evidence of occupation by a variety of different civilisations over the course of its existence . It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations and seaports on the Black Sea , in what has become a popular area with several large resorts - the largest , Sunny Beach , is situated immediately to the north of Nesebar . Nesebar has on several occasions found itself on the frontier of a threatened empire , and as such it is a town with a rich history . Due to the city 's abundance of historic buildings , UNESCO came to include Nesebar in its list of World Heritage Sites in 1983 . As of December 2009 , the town has a population of 11,626 inhabitants .
The Black Sea is a body of water and marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean between Eastern Europe , the Caucasus , and Western Asia . It is supplied by a number of major rivers , such as the Danube , Dnieper , Southern Bug , Dniester , Don , and the Rioni . The watersheds of many countries drain into the Black Sea beyond the six that immediately border it . The Black Sea has an area of 436,400 km2 ( 168,500 sq mi ) ( not including the Sea of Azov ) , a maximum depth of 2,212 m ( 7,257 ft ) , and a volume of 547,000 km3 ( 131,000 cu mi ) . It is constrained by the Pontic Mountains to the south , Caucasus Mountains to the east , Crimean Mountains to the north , Strandzha to the southwest , Balkan Mountains to the west , Dobrogea Plateau to the northwest , and features a wide shelf to the northwest . The longest east-west extent is about 1,175 km ( 730 mi ) . Important cities along the coast include Odessa , Sevastopol , Samsun , and Istanbul . The Black Sea is bordered by Ukraine , Romania , Bulgaria , Turkey , Georgia , and Russia . It has a positive water balance ; that is , a net outflow of water 300 km3 ( 72 cu mi ) per year through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles into the Aegean Sea . There is a two-way hydrological exchange : the more saline and therefore denser , but warmer , Mediterranean water flows into the Black Sea under its less saline outflow . This creates a significant anoxic layer well below the surface waters . The Black Sea drains into the Mediterranean Sea , via the Aegean Sea and various straits , and is navigable to the Atlantic Ocean .
Burgas Province ( Bulgarian : Област Бургас - Oblast Burgas , former name Burgas okrug ) is a province in southeastern Bulgaria , including southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast . The province is named after its administrative and industrial centre - the city of Burgas - the fourth biggest town in the country . It is the largest province by area , embracing a territory of 7,748.1 km2 ( 2,991.6 sq mi ) that is divided into 13 municipalities with a total population , as of December 2009 , of 422,319 inhabitants .
The United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ; French : Organisation des Nations unies pour l'éducation , la science et la culture ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations ( UN ) based in Paris , France . Its declared purpose is to contribute to promoting international collaboration in education , sciences , and culture in order to increase universal respect for justice , the rule of law , and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter . It is the successor of the League of Nations ' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation . UNESCO has 193 member states and 11 associate members . Most of its field offices are cluster offices that cover three or more countries ; national and regional offices also exist . UNESCO pursues its objectives through five major programs : education , natural sciences , social/human sciences , culture and communication/information . Projects sponsored by UNESCO include literacy , technical , and teacher-training programs , international science programs , the promotion of independent media and freedom of the press , regional and cultural history projects , the promotion of cultural diversity , translations of world literature , international cooperation agreements to secure the world 's cultural and natural heritage ( World Heritage Sites ) and to preserve human rights , and attempts to bridge the worldwide digital divide . It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group . UNESCO 's aim is to contribute to the building of peace , the eradication of poverty , sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education , the sciences , culture , communication and information . Other priorities of the organization include attaining quality Education For All and lifelong learning , addressing emerging social and ethical challenges , fostering cultural diversity , a culture of peace and building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication . The broad goals and objectives of the international community - as set out in the internationally agreed development goals , including the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) - underpin all UNESCO strategies and activities .
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area , selected by the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ) for having cultural , historical , scientific or other form of significance , which is legally protected by international treaties . The sites are judged to be important for the collective and preservative interests of humanity . To be selected , a World Heritage Site must be an already-classified landmark , unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance ( such as an ancient ruin or historical structure , building , city , complex , desert , forest , island , lake , monument , mountain , or wilderness area ) . It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity , and serve as evidence of our intellectual history on the planet . The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity , which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing , unmonitored/uncontrolled/unrestricted access , or threat from local administrative negligence . Sites are demarcated by UNESCO as protected zones . The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee , composed of 21 states parties that are elected by their General Assembly . The programme catalogues , names , and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common culture and heritage of humanity . Under certain conditions , listed sites can obtain funds from the World Heritage Fund . The programme began with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World 's Cultural and Natural Heritage , which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972 . Since then , 193 state parties have ratified the convention , making it one of the most widely recognised international agreements and the world 's most popular cultural programme . In 1978 the city of Quito earned the distinction of being the first city in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
The Church of Saint Paraskevi ( Bulgarian : църква „ Света Параскева , tsarkva „ Sveta Paraskeva , Byzantine Greek : Ναός Αγίας Παρασκευής ) is a partially preserved medieval Eastern Orthodox church in Nesebar ( medieval Mesembria ) , a town on the Black Sea coast of Burgas Province in eastern Bulgaria . It was most likely built in the 13th or 14th century and forms part of the Ancient Nesebar UNESCO World Heritage Site . The Church of Saint Paraskevi features a single nave and a pentagonal apse as well as rich exterior decoration . Its dome and the belfry surmounting the narthex have not been preserved today , and it is unknown which of the three saints named Paraskevi it was dedicated to .