Church of "Sv. Ivan Rilski"

The church of "St. Ivan Rilski" in the village of Brestovitza (Borovo Municipality) is a beautiful building with four columns, built on a site donated by Stoyan Dryanovets (local inhabitant). It was built in 1876.

History:

During the Ottoman rule the authorities did not allow local people to build their temple in the village. On several occasions, the Bulgarians began to build his church, but Muslims from neighboring villages (Turks and Circassians) arrived and destroyed the building to the ground.

In 1876 the population contact the Russian consul in Rustchuk (nowadays city of Ruse) with a request to assist them through diplomatic channels. After his help, and a hefty bribe for the regional pasha, the permit was received. The church was built just in few months with voluntary contributions from Christians (including Russians).

In 1877-1878 in Brestovitza was located the headquarters of Ruschushkiya squad led by Crown-prince Alexander Alexandrovich. At the end of the war the Russian imperial family donated to the inhabitants of the village of Brestovitza five great bells, church utensils and books. The bells were made by special technology and are richly decorated with inscriptions and mythological scenes.

The church has several icons painted by the master Zachariy Tsanov from the Tryavna art school.

In 1973, the "St. Ivan Rilski" church in Brestovitza was declared for a monument of art and culture.