EARLY CHRISTIAN COMPLEX

The Early Christian Complex includes the earliest Christian church found till now on the territory of the ancient Partikopolis.

Contiguous to it are the atrium, auxiliary premises for the performance of religious rituals and a part of the residence of the bishop. Discovered and explored in 1967 it is three nave basilica with an entrance and an atrium with a well. Marble columns crowned with Ionic capitols have been divided the three ships, and the altar is separated from the naos by a partition. The walls were covered with murals. The basilica was built in the middle of IV century. It was destroyed during the Gothic attacks and subsequently reconstructed again.  Close to church were discovered auxiliary premises. In the western part of the complex is situated the cardo maximus –  the main or central north–south-oriented street. It was covered with a well-polished granite blocks and as all the streets of the ancient Partikopolis had drainage channels. On both sides of the street was rising colonnade built of granite columns connected by arches. On one of the columns until today is read an inscription from the time of the reign of Emperor Caracalla: “Marcus Aurelius Capitonian and Terentiana Julia, they were priests /donated/ to their hometown the columns of Stoa”.

Additional information
Services: Providing a guide from the Archaeological Museum – Sandanski
Phone: +359 746 90887, 0896713202
E-mail: museum_sandanski@mail.bg

Winter period (November-March)
Holiday day: Sunday and Monday
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Summer period (April to October)
Holiday day: Monday
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