Разрушената църква "Св. Петка" в Асенова махала, Велико Търново
The Destroyed St. Petka Church in the Asenova Neighborhood in Veliko Turnovo

Summary/Abstract: This article is an attempt to systemize written accounts of the St. Petka Church, which was destroyed in an earthquake in 1913. It also at­ tempts to records the church‘s material remnants: wall paintings collected by the National Museum and parts of the iconostasis and icon, stored in the parish church, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Most likely the church already existed in the 15th century when for the first time its walls were painted. Its patron saint was the Venerable Paraskeva of Epivat (of Turnovo). Towards the end of the 17th century, the church was re­ stored with new paintings, a new iconostasis (with holy gates unique in terms of their composition and form) and icons - it is possible that all the work was completed by a single team. For the icon of the patron saint, they used the Greek saint’s life; thus it turned out to be the hagiographical icon of St Paraskeva of Rome, who is venerated among the Greeks. During the 19th century, the walls were white­ washed. One wall was decorated with an enlarged imitati on of the old patron saint icon, while a new icon of the real patron saint, St Paraskeva of Epivat, was ordered. Both were painted in 1854 and 1855 by the Gabrovo icon painter Ivan Hadzhivasilev.

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