The church of “St. Archangels Michael and Gavrail” is the largest one in the architectural reserve of Arbanassi. It comprises an altar, a men’s department, a women’s department, a chapel called “St. Paraskeva” and a gallery.

 The men’s department was built and painted in 17th century. The founder of the church was the family of Hadji Niku Kultukli – a nobleman from Arbanassi. In the northwestern part of the men’s department there is his portrait situated, as well as the portraits of his wife and children. In this part of the church there are painted the compositions of “Disembarkation to the underworld” and “The Nativity”.

 The frescoes in the women’s department are painted by the icon-painters Michael from Thessalonica and George from Bucharest. The paintings were finished in 1760.

 In the arch of the department there are painted the portraits of Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, and John the Baptist. On the walls is represented the full scene of the akatist of Virgin Mary and are painted many portraits of saint women.

 

“The Nativity” is one of the oldest churches in the picturesque village of Arbanassi, included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List of valuable cultural sites. It was built in the end of the 16 th and the beginning of the 17 th century. It comprises a men’s department, a women’s department, a gallery that surrounds them to the North and South, and a chapel called “St. John the Baptist”. The church was built on several stages. The men’s department at first was a separate church.

 “The Nativity” Church is one of the most beautifully decorated churches in the village. The frescoes in the men’s department were finished in 1597. From that period are the compositions of “The Doomsday” and “The Nativity”. The paintings in the women’s department date back to 1638. They cover the walls and the arch of the department. The themes of “Akatist Bogorodichen”, “Drevo Ieseevo” (“The Tree of Issaya”), and “The Doomsday” are presented. The frescoes are very colorful and rich in scenes and figures.

 The frescoes in the chapel of “John the Baptist” were painted in 1632. They are devoted to the St. John the Baptist. The iconostasis of the chapel is one of the oldest pieces of the Bulgarian engraving art from that period. Most of the paintings in the gallery date back to 1649. They are grouped in a calendar series “Menelog” and present scenes from the Old and the New Testaments. The 7 Oecumenical Councils are illustrated.
 In the men’s department the paintings show the Festivities, the Sufferings, and the Miracles of the Christ. They were finished in 1681.