After the Russo-Turkish War of 1828 and 1829, reforms were undertaken by Sultan Mahmut II, giving Christians greater religious freedom, and allowing them to build schools and churches.
Shiroka Laka was one of the first settlements in the Rhodopes that received permission to build a church, in 1834. The location selected had been used for hundreds of years to perform spiritual rituals, sacrifices, and local traditions. Despite opposition from a Turkish officer, Smail Aga and the Muslim population, the village was to begin building the church. On the first day of construction, Smail Aga raised his weapon against the builders and ordered them to stop working. Todor the Crazy replied that the village would revolt and that the foundations would not be moved. The Muslims interfere with every aspect of their work.
This clash ended with a complaint filed in Plovdiv, and a representative was sent to Shiroka Laka to calm tensions and to promote the development of the work, which had to be completed in 40 days. The whole village was involved in the construction of the church and it was completed in 38 days, according to historians. The church is 19 meters long, 12 meters wide and 8 meters high. The walls have a thickness of one meter. Eight columns hold up the leaning roof covered in stone bricks. The massive doors are overlaid with thick iron plate for more protection against attacks and bullets. A 5 to 10 meter high wall also protected the church. The church was consecrated in 1835 and was dedicated to the Assumption.
Sanctuary
Bulgaria
Macedonia
Romania
Shiroka Laka