RESTORATION OF GREAT BASILICA IN EARLY MEDIEVAL CAPITAL PLISKA STARTED

The restoration of the Great Bazilika in Bulgaria’s early medieval capital Pliska has begun.

The Great Bazilika is the first Christian temple built after Bulgaria’s adoption of Christianity in 864-865 AD under the leadership of Knyaz Boris I.

The first stage is to rebuild the ancient well in the southern part of the temple.

The Bulgarian government has allocated 500,000 BGN (app. EUR 255,000), but the overall restoration of the complex will cost between 8 and 10 million BGN.

A Pliska NGO has started a fund-raising campaign for the archaeological restorations in Bulgaria’s medieval capital.

The basilica was built on the foundations of an old temple called martyrium. The martyr buried there is thought to be Boyan Enravota, the first Bulgarian saint. There was a well in the middle of the marthyrium, which existed until the end of 19th century, but was then filled with rubble. Later, the well was uncovered and researched by the Czech-Bulgarian archaeologist and museum worker, Karel Škorpil.

The holy well is 15 m deep and its widest diameter is 4 m. It is covered by marble blocks.

The excavation works is going on. The archaeologists say there is a possibility to find church valuables at the bottom of the well because in the past, at times of raids, people frequently hid treasures at the bottom of deep wells.

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