The chapel “St. Ivan” in the Smolyan district of Dolno Raykovo is nestled at the foot of a large cliff, and near it flows clean and healing water. It was renovated and expanded four years ago, said Mara Velikinska, who manages it. Then a part of the rock was incorporated into the chapel. Today, small icons are perched on it, in front of which worshippers hold their breath and say their most cherished prayers.
The inscription carved directly on the stone is also impressive. A sun and a cross stand out, but to this day no one has been able to decipher these hieroglyphs. People say that the chapel has existed on this spot in Dolno Raykovo since time immemorial. Water was once held in high esteem, there were no water pipes in every home then.
Springs were only in certain places. People believed that these places were blessed by God and built chapels around them. Such is the story of the small chapel in Dolno Raikovo. It is a blessed place and people come here daily to pour water. And the chapel awaits them with open doors to go inside, light a candle and pray.
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