Church of Saints Constantine and Helena

The Church of Saints Constantine and Helena is one of the most richly decorated Bulgarian National Revival churches in Plovdiv, located in the old town near the Roman theatre. Built on the site of an older church, the current structure dates from 1832 and is notable for its collection of frescoes by Zahari Zograph — vivid, expressive paintings covering the exterior portico and interior walls.

The church served the city's Bulgarian Orthodox community through the period of Ottoman rule, functioning as both a religious and cultural centre. The carved wooden iconostasis is exceptionally fine. The church is still in active use and open for visitors outside service times.

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A story
The church was rebuilt in 1832 during the Bulgarian National Revival — a period when Bulgarian communities under Ottoman rule asserted cultural identity through the construction of elaborate churches, which had previously been required to be inconspicuous and low-built. The 1832 rebuild incorporated frescoes by Zahari Zograph, one of the most important Bulgarian painters of the 19th century.