Holy Forty Martyrs Church: A Testament to Bulgarian History

Nestled at the foot of Tsarevets Fortress, the Holy Forty Martyrs Church is one of the most emblematic medieval churches in Veliko Tarnovo. Built in 1230 by Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II in honor of his victory over Theodore Komnenos Doukas of Epirus, the church has been a monument of culture since 1964. The victory, which occurred on March 9th, was seen as divine intervention by the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. The church's architecture features an elongated six-columned basilica with three semicircular apses and a narrow narthex. Over the centuries, the church has undergone several transformations. During Ottoman rule, it was converted into a mosque, resulting in the destruction of many murals and the iconostasis. After Bulgaria's liberation in 1878, it was restored as a Christian church. Inside, visitors can explore the surviving murals, including those of St. Elizabeth with baby John the Baptist and St. Anne. The church also houses some of the most significant ancient Bulgarian epigraphical monuments, such as Omurtag's Column, Asen's Column, and the Border Column from Rodosto Fortress. The tombs of Bulgarian tsars Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II, along with other members of the royal family, are also located within the church. The declaration of Bulgaria's independence from the Ottoman Empire was proclaimed here on September 22, 1908. Today, the Holy Forty Martyrs Church functions as a museum, offering guided tours in multiple languages and holding liturgies on major Christian holidays.