ST. DIMITER’S CHURCH IN ARBANASSI

The result of the complex study of St. Dimiter’s Church provide grounds to highlight a number of issues relevant to the history of Arbanassi, its territorial organization, the origin of the architectural composition of the churches, the role of the Church in the life of the settlement. 

From 30’s of 17th c. to the end of 18th c. the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi had cathedral functions. St. Dimiter’s Church was reinstated as metropolitan church again in the mid-19th c. This is attested in a document of the Code of Tarnovo diocese dated June 1850. It reveals that the metropolitan bishop of Tarnovo, Neophit, and the subordinated bishops gathered in St. Dimiter’s Church in Arbanassi and elected a vicar bishop for the diocese. The importance of the church during the time of metropolitan bishop Neophit is substantiated by one more fact. His closest relatives were buried in the narthex of the church – his sister Anna Kaludi and her husband, Constantin Kaludi.

St. Dimiter’s Church played a significant role in the organisation of the educational network in Arbanassi. There was a church school at St. Dimiter’s. There is evidence that in 17th c. intense literary work was carried out in the church. The religious books of St. Dimiter’s Church have numerous inscriptions in the margins. These convey information about noteworthy historical, economic and cultural events in the village.