The Assumption Church in Saparevo

The village of Saparevo is several kilometers away from the town of Sapareva Banya. The church is the biggest in the municipality and is exceptionally beautiful. The central dome of the church is supported by four columns, crowned with guilt images. It was built in 1861-1864. The church is a scale copy of the church in the Rila Monastery. In decorating the church, the icon-painter and the master-woodcarver also imitated models from the Rila Monastery. In the early 19th century, there was only a stone cross on the spot of the today’s church, which is an indication that this was the site of an old consecrated ground. The church was built at the initiative of Alesko Grahayov, who was the poorest man in the village. The Holy Virgin appeared in his dream and told him he was going to built a church. In the same wondrous way he was given instruction where to dig for the money required for the construction of the church. The copper, in which they say the poor man found the gold coins, is preserved as a relic in the church to this day. Master-builders from Tran were employed, and an icon-painter from the Bansko-Razlog school was invited.