St. Archangel Michial church – Krupnik village

The village of Krupnik is located 7 km southwestern direction from Simitli (Southwestern Bulgaria). The remains of an ancient settlement and a medieval necropolis are found in the eastern part of the village. The construction of the church St. Archangel Michial started 1932 and was completed 1935. This is the only church in Bulgarian that is dome, cruciform and nave shape in the same time. The temple was built by master Radenko from the Treklyano village, Kyustendil district. The wall-paintings are made by the master Panteley Seferov in 1971-1974. The icons and the wood-carving are typical for the Razlog-Bansko school. An old-Slav inscription is read above the iconostasis. In the second half of 16ht century Joasaf was bishop of the Krupnik diocese. He initiated the working out of a manuscript Four-Gospel, known as the Krupnik Gospel. In 1577 Joasaf granted the Gospel to the Rila monastery. The Four-Gospel is masterly lined by the Sofia goldsmith Matei with gilt silver covers. In the four corners are painted the faces of the four Evangelists. The images of apostles and other saints are also painted there.