Unique church in Dobarsko attracts tourists and pilgrims all year round

Nestled in the foothills of Rila, the village of Dobarsko attracts tourists from all corners of the country year-round. A legend has it that some of the first settlers in the area of today's village were the blinded soldiers of Tsar Samuel, who, because of the harsh winter, stopped their journey to the Rila Monastery. This tragic episode from Bulgarian history took place in 1014, when Byzantine Emperor Basil II defeated the army of Bulgarian Tsar Samuel in the Belasitsa Mountains and blinded his 15,000-strong army. In the area of today's Dobarsko, they found healing water that soothed the pain in their eyes, and they decided to stay. Later, they founded the famous Dobarsko School for Blind Singers.

The local church "St. Theodore Tyron and St. Theodore Stratilates" dates back to 1614 and is one of the 100 National Tourist Sites. The temple has been declared a cultural monument and is under the protection of UNESCO.

There are 460 images In the three-nave basilica, many of which do not follow the generally accepted norms.

The iconostasis is separated from the altar by a wall, on which the twelve apostles are depicted in full size, a rare sight in Bulgarian churches.

An interesting feature is the number of images of female saints, which exceeds 30. The church is also unique for its fresco of the Transfiguration, where Jesus Christ is depicted in a sort of spacecraft.

• The mystery of Dobarsko Church

The cleaning and restoration of the frescoes began in the 1970s and took 10 years. Prior to that, they were covered with a thick layer of soot formed by the burning of a large number of wax and tallow candles.

The murals are almost fully preserved, thanks to the dim light in the church, the constant temperature and excellent ventilation. Services in the church are held only three times a year – on Christmas, Easter and Todorovden (St. Theodore's Day).

There are legends about the healing properties of the spring in the yard of the church "St. Theodore Tyron and St. Theodore Stratilates". Its flow remains constant throughout all seasons, and the water never freezes, even on the coldest days of the year.