The sunken church of St. Ivan Rilski in the Zhrebchevo dam
The sunken church of St. Ivan Rilski in the Zhrebchevo dam
The sunken church "St. Ivan Rilski" is located in the Zhrebchevo dam, in the village of Zapalnya. It was built in 1891-1892 and was an important spiritual center for the local population. In the 1960s, the construction of the dam began. The village of Zapalnya, along with the villages of Zhrebchevo and Dolno Panicharevo, were erased from the map of Bulgaria, and their inhabitants were evicted.
Today, the Zhrebchevo dam is the fifth largest in Bulgaria and is located on an area of 25 square kilometers. It is used for tourism, fishing and various water sports.
How do you get to the church?
The church is located at the eastern end of Zhrebchevo dam. The nearest big cities to it are Nova Zagora (28 km), Sliven (43 km), Kazanlak (46 km), Stara Zagora (55 km) and Veliko Tarnovo (73 km). It is located near the Sub-Balkan road and can be reached most conveniently by car.See the exact location of the church on Google Maps from the button below.
Church St. Ivan rilski
How much time would I need?
To visit it, you can prepare about half an hour to an hour. The church is very beautiful, but it is small and you will quickly explore it.
Is the church really under water?
We visited at the end of September and there was no water nearby. According to other sources, in the spring, part of it remains under water and would be suitable for visiting by kayak.
Does the place have an interesting history?
Yes! The church "St. Ivan Rilski" was built in 1891-2. The construction was under the supervision of Tryavna craftsmen. In 1923, it was completely painted, and the names of 32 local residents who died during the wars were written on the western wall. In 1965, the history of the village of Zapalnia turned upside down and it was erased from the map of Bulgaria by decree. This forces all the residents to destroy their houses. They tear down their homes, collect the reusable materials and scatter around the country. Only the church rises above the ruined village. This happened thanks to the priest Dragan Stoykov, who, despite the express order, remained the last one in the village until 1966.
After that date, the property of the temple was distributed by the Starozagorska Metropolitanate to different temples. The church bell goes to the church "St. Paraskeva" in the town of Tvarditsa and to this day it rings to announce the loss of a resident of the now former village of Zapalnia.
Despite the enormous effort to preserve the temple, it was desecrated and largely destroyed by vandals. Tiles, roof columns and anything else deemed valuable are stolen. This is the reason why the church remains without a roof, but despite everything, its cross faces the dam, and it stands proudly upright and reminds of a bygone era.
Can I take my dog?
Yes! We visited the church with our dog Jerry and there were 2 other dogs there who had water and food bowls left at the entrance. If you decide to visit, please take a can or packet of dog kibble and bring it to them. They will be very grateful and so will I.
Is there a convenient picnic spot or something to eat nearby?
Yes, there was a gazebo with benches near the church. Unfortunately we didn't visit it because there was a noisy company there, but it looked quite nice.
When is the best time to visit that place?
The best place is this weekend! If you have found my page and are reading about the church, don't hesitate, but hurry up and visit it. I'm sure you'll like it.
If you visit it in the spring, keep in mind that it can be under water. Get the right clothes, shoes and get ready for an adventure!
What is interesting nearby?
Nearby, I can recommend you to visit Ayazmo Park and Lake Zagora in Stara Zagora. Also the Karandila Reserve near Sliven, the Shipka Monastery "Nativity" in the town of Shipka, the Bozhentsi Reserve, the town of Tryavna and many other lesser-known locations.About my adventure
I've been wanting to visit the church for a long time, but I still couldn't make it. I had organized a trip to Kazanlak Airport that weekend. I was gifted a flight voucher by friends and in typical me style at the absolute last minute I made an appointment to use it.
The weather in the morning was amazing - sunny and calm, and the plane ride unforgettable. We flew over Kazanlak and reached the Shipka monument, Haji Dimitar peak and the Buzludzha monument, over the village of Enina, near the town of Shipka and the Church of the Nativity, along the Koprinka dam and other interesting locations. I was definitely very excited after visiting some of the places, and I even ran on Tryavna Ultra 100km through Shipka and Buzludzha, so the flight was quite emotional. ( Read more here )
For the fans of aerial entertainment, I wholeheartedly recommend the people at Kazanlak Airport.
After the extreme experiences, we decided to visit the sunken church in the Zhrebchevo dam. By the end of the summer the dam had receded and it was possible to drive to the very entrance of the church. We stopped a little further to walk and enjoy the view. We walked towards her with our dog Jerry, and two dogs appeared opposite. At first I was worried, but we saw that they were quite friendly and very happy to see us. The church looked very impressive and first one notices the cross towering above the entrance, the icon of St. Ivan Rilski and then we notice the lines that still remember where the water of the dam reached.
Although the church looks like it was thrown in the middle of nowhere, we understand that the water of the dam covered it and we are genuinely surprised. Today the water is so far away that it looks like a small creek from here. The church from the inside looks somewhat unfinished, but also just as perfect. The vault of the church is the only thing obscuring the sky and clouds above us, and the small icons add to the feeling of a church. There is a dedicated space inside where you can light a candle and pray.
After looking inside we decided to go around the church and have a look. I'd say it's quite an impressive sight. As the day progressed, clouds appeared and somehow added to the wonderful scenery. But that's enough for today. At home, our big dog is waiting for us and we start back home.
Will we come back here? Certainly in the spring to see the church under water. And there are so many other wonderful places nearby to see.
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