Dobarsko Church sits in the quiet village of Dobarsko, near Bansko and not far from the Bulgarian-Greek border, surrounded by mountain scenery. It sits about 150 km from Sofia and 20 km from Bansko. From the ski resorts or the seaside, you can reach Dobarsko in around 2–3 hours.
Dobarsko became famous not only for its stunning nature, the vocal folklore group “Dobarsko Grannies,” and its delicious homemade meals. Long before rural tourism boomed in the 21st century, travelers discovered Dobarsko for one reason: its Dobarsko church with 400-year-old frescoes.
Inside the Dobarsko church, you can see two incredible frescoes of Jesus in what looks like a spaceship. Erich von Däniken mentioned them in his cult film Memories of the Future. It was back in the 1970 that Swiss researcher and ufologist Erich von Daniken mentioned Sts. Theodore Tiron and Theodore Stratelates in his cult film Memories of the Future: Unsolved Mysteries of the Past.
It was the first time that the world heard of Jesus Christ painted in what looks like a spaceship surrounded by flames against the background of a clearly depicted stratosphere and outer space.
The mystery of Dobarsko Church
Many tourists including pilots and cosmonauts visit Dobarsko to see these stunning frescoes. Present-day science has no explanation for them. You can find such space elements, though not so explicit, in other ancient frescoes. In the theological interpretation this is symbolism that conveys God’s glory. Ufologists have other hypotheses to offer that have to do with extraterrestrial intelligence and UFOs.
The story of the church’s restoration carries another legend that sparks curiosity. The church dates back to 1614. It has a three-nave structure, just like other Byzantine-style Orthodox churches. But in 1978, during the restoration work, something curious happened.
After they cleaned them up they were dismayed with the vibrant depiction of biblical scenes and the animated faces of saints, so vivid and perfect that they remind of the masterpieces of Renaissance artist Giotto. Instead of pale-faced martyrs as the canons of Christian painting require, the church’s walls are inhabited by good-looking youthful figures fraught with light and joy.
The Dobarsko Church small, its area being about 160 sq. m, but it has 460 human figures
Such densely frescoed church is found nowhere else in Bulgaria. Here not even one centimeter has been left unpainted. The church has frescoes of more than thirty women-saints. No church has so many female figures. Male figures are even more numerous.
There are unique frescoes of warrior saints St. Demetrius and St. George – painted full-length. In the Orthodox tradition they usually ride horses. Equally unique is the iconostasis with the Royal Doors and with the twelve apostles painted full-length too.
The central dome features various scenes from the life of the Savior. One celebrated fresco is The Transfiguration in which He is ready for takeoff in a spacecraft.
The southern section of the Dobarsko Church, straight before visitors’ stunned eyes, presents scenes from removing the body of Christ from the cross, His funeral and mourning and the emblematic mural Descent into Hell. In it the Savior descends into hell inside something like a fiery rocket – to reopen heaven’s gates for humans.
The church has yet another mystery, and it has to do with the healing waters of the spring in the churchyard. Visitors often queue there carrying bottles and tubes. The spring’s debit neither grows nor decreases and it never freezes, even on coldest of days . Its water is quite helpful in the treatment of eye diseases.
Dobarsko – food, folklore, and cozy stays
Dobarsko also charms visitors with its guesthouses. The village serves traditional cuisine and keeps its folklore alive. Tourists from all over the world keep coming back. Staying here means tasting local dishes and apreciating the authentic village atmosphere.
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