Round Church in Preslav

The Round Church, also known as the Golden Church or the Church of St John, is a significant monument of medieval Bulgarian architecture in Veliki Preslav. The building is partially preserved and constitutes a historical and cultural site. Some of its key features and facts are as follows. The church was excavated and studied in 1927–1928 by the archaeologists Krastyo Miyatev and Yordan Gospodinov. It is generally associated with the 'holy new golden church' mentioned in 907 by the Old Bulgarian writer Tudor Doksov, which was built by Prince Simeon at the mouth of the River Ticha. The Round Church is known for the circular plan of its nave, or naos. Its layout also includes a forecourt, or atrium, with a colonnade and a rectangular vestibule, or narthex. Its architectural style is Byzantine, with possible Caucasian or Carolingian influences. The church was richly decorated with mosaics, painted ceramic tiles and carved marble. Although much of this decoration has disappeared, small portions survive. Graffiti drawings, Greek names of saints and texts in Glagolitic and Cyrillic have been discovered on its walls. The church is not only an architectural jewel but also an important source for understanding religious and cultural aspects of Bulgarian medieval history.