SAINT NICHOLAS METROPOLITAN CHURCH

According to the archaeological data Saint Nicholas church was built in the Justinian era (the second half of the VI century) at the site of the destroyed ancient sanctuary whose remains have skillfully adapted in its structure.

Saint Nicholas church was the largest and most representative. It is assumed that was conceived and built in the troubled times of Justinian the Great and the frequent devastating Slavic invasions as a suburban residence of the Episcopate in the neighboring town of Sandanski. It is situated in a more secure place among the guarded of nature and the rocks fortress at the foot of Pirin mountain. It played an important role in the religious life of the departed to the mountain locals and to the new settlers in the region who had to accept Christianity. The late Antiquity church served as a metropolitan church until early XX century and then the metropolitan throne was moved to the Saint Nicholas the miracle worker church.