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Little Jerusalem is hidden in the Rhodopes. In Pavelsko they keep their faith with 33 chapels. It is located in the northern part of the Rhodopes or about 20 km from Chepelare.
It can probably be called the country with the largest number of chapels in our country. About 500 people live here, who have been taking care of the faith for hundreds of years by maintaining these chapels. And donors keep donating, including glowing crosses like the one behind me.
A total of 34 Christian temples welcome the faithful. 33 are chapels and each of them is named after a different saint.
We have placed “San Trifone” in the area, which is specific for vineyards, for vineyards. Another chapel, near here, which is – “Santa Maria e Maddalena”. Further up, where the cross is, is “St. Petka”. Further up, where the TV tower is, is St. Dimitar. And here in the lower area is “San Todor,” explained the former mayor of the village, Ivan Slavov.
This chapel is the only one in the center of the village. All the others are lost in his land. The mayor shows us another part of the chapels. Three of them have glowing crosses. In practice, each one is adopted by a village resident and kept by him as a second home, says Atanas Stankov.
“Everywhere we go, these 33 chapels are completely anointed and painted. They do it voluntarily, the people themselves,” he said.
We also enter the church, a cultural monument. Built in 1834 by local butcher Marko Ivanov. He personally took a firman from the Sultan, which stipulated that the temple be built in just 40 days.
“During the day, Pavel’s people with donkeys, carts pushed stones, tikli and built. In the evening, the Turkish population that was there then demolished it. However, they failed to demolish everything and on the 40th day the church was ready” said Atanas Stankov.
Pavelsko will soon acquire two more chapels. One will be called “Faith, Hope, Love.”
