Submerged Church of St. Ivan Rilski – Zhrebchevo

The Church of St. Ivan Rilski, also known as the Submerged Church, was located in the now nonexistent village of Zapalnya, today situated close to the Zhrebchevo Reservoir.

The village, located near the town of Nikolaevo, was submerged in 1965 during the construction of the reservoir.

The only remaining memory of it is the Church of St. Ivan Rilski, built in 1895, which proudly rises above the waters and is popularly known as the Submerged Church.

Beneath the Koprinka Reservoir lie the foundations of three submerged villages—Zapalnya, Zhrebchevo, and Dolno Panicharevo. Despite the residents’ petitions and opposition, the villages were submerged, and their inhabitants were relocated to nearby settlements.

Part of the church altar was saved and moved to Koprinka, while the church bell was relocated to Tvarditsa. Whenever a resident of one of the submerged villages passes away, the bell is rung in their honor.

The church is not submerged year-round—during spring, the reservoir’s waters reach almost halfway up the church, while by late summer, the waters recede completely, making it accessible by land.

Near the church, on a nearby hill, lies an old cemetery with a memorial plaque for the village, stating: “Village of Zapalnya, settled in the 15th century, resettled in 1962.”