Last updated on December 21, 2023.

The Church of the Holy Saviour (Sveti Spas) is located in the UNESCO World Heritage listed historic city of Nessebar. This small stone church was built by the Bulgarians in 1609.

Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Church of the Holy Saviour

 

History

Because it was constructed during Ottoman rule, the church sits below ground level. It’s quite small, at about 11.7 meters long by 5.7 meters wide, and has a single nave and apse. The tombstone of Byzantine princess Mataissa Cantacuzina was once located there, but it has been moved to Nessebar’s Archaeological Museum.

 

Visiting

The church has been deconsecrated and is now a museum preserving its incredible wall paintings depicting scenes of the Life of Christ. Admission is 4лв (as of August 2023).

 

Photos

The following is a collection of photos I took at the church:

Frescoes on the entrance wall in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Frescoes on the entrance wall
A wall containing frescoes in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
A wall containing frescoes
Partially damaged frescoes in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Partially damaged frescoes
Faded frescoes in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Faded frescoes
Depiction of Saints Constantine and Helen in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Depiction of Saints Constantine and Helen
Fresco of the Transfiguration in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Fresco of the Transfiguration
Female saints in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Female saints
Christ washing the feet of the Disciples
Christ entering Jerusalem on a donkey in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Christ entering Jerusalem on a donkey
Resurrection of Lazarus in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Resurrection of Lazarus
Fresco of three saints
Another fresco of three saints
Fresco of the Resurrection in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Fresco of the Resurrection
A scene in the life of Christ
Biblical scene
Fresco of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Fresco of the Twelve Apostles
Dormition of the Virgin in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Dormition of the Virgin
Frescoes
Frescoes in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Nessebar, Bulgaria
Frescoes
Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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