Agate moon ~ Bulgaria: Trip to the mountain III : Dobarsko church

The church "St. Teodor Tiron and St. Teodor Stratilat" is one of the special sacred destinations to visit on our trip. We are going there on the first day of travel. It`s a nice little church in the south of Rila mountain. It was closed in this time of winter, so we called the number written on the door. One very kind woman came, then we went inside the low door and had very good lecture from her, viewing the amazing icons of the church. They are very well preserved until now, even the church was made in 1614. Photos were not allowed, so we just took cards of the church from the entrance.

Location: 180 km south of Sofia, 18 km from Razlog, 17 km from Bansko
Landscape: south of Rila mountain
Interesting: in this place in ancient times were settled many Bogomili brotherhoods, believed to be heretical for the official church, so the Byzantine authorities forbid their religious practices and were chasing them away.

The little temple is declared as a national monument of culture and 3rd of 100 national cultural landmarks in Bulgaria.

Altar icons traveled around the world as part of the exhibition "Bulgarian Medieval Cultural Inheritance", then were returned to Dobarsko.

Many icons were painted with great mastery and even out of the classical icon canons. They depict many saints in almost real size with whole body (which is also not common in this time, as they usually depict saints only half body). Very popular and disputed are the icons of Jesus Christ, showing him in something similar to a shape of spaceship or a capsule. it could be taken also as a special field or aura, but its color is light red or pink.

In this little size church are depicted more than 400 separated images of Saints, some of them are the patrons of the church St. Teodor Tiron and St. Teodor Stratilat, others are: St. Georgi (in full size), St.Iliya, many women images like Maria Egyptian, St. Alexandra, St. Nedelia, St.Matrona.

Icon with Jesus Transfiguration, showing him in something in shape of "rocket"

Another icon shows Resurrection of Jesus again coming to earth inside a "capsule" with ellipse form.

Nativity of Christ is amazingly depicted with the Sirius star ray pointing at the new born baby. This is out of the icons canon painting.

Legend : it is believed that the first settlers in the place of Dobarsko were the blinded (by order of emperor Vaslilly II) Samuil soldiers. They were captured during the battle in village Kliuch (1014). They were heading to Rila monastery, but on the way the winter overtook, so they remain in the place of Dobarsko church. The legend says they found relief for their wounded eyes from the healing spring of the village. It is believed that not only they found relief for the pain, but some of them even return their sight. This healing water springs from the yard of the Medieval church. Anyone who goes there should sprinkle his eyes and face with this water.

The blinded Samuil Soldiers are depicted one the right wall of the church with Jesus Christ, a combination between the legend and the story from the Scriptures of when Jesus healed blind people.

The church in Dobarsko is one of the most unique historical monuments from Medieval time. Some researcher say, the real date of its building is even earlier 1122 -as announced on the square dug stone slab with carved on it two-headed eagle with wand and scepter. According to measurements this is the place with the highest energy filed. In this time probably there was a Byzantine temple, and the church was build on its basis later in 1614.

Outside view of the church in January.