Elenska Basilica
Coordinates: 42°43′56.95″N 24°13′14.25″E / 42.7324861°N 24.2206250°E
The Elenska Basilica or Elensko Basilica (Bulgarian: Еленска базилика, Elenska bazilika) is a large partially preserved late Roman (early Byzantine) Christian basilica in west central Bulgaria. Dating to the 5th–6th century AD, it lies 5 to 6 kilometres (3.1 to 3.7 mi) northeast of Pirdop and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Anton, on the right bank of the Elenska (or Elensko) River (Еленска река, Elenska reka). The initially domeless basilica, which features thick walls and defensive towers, had a dome added in the mid-6th century, during the reign of Justinian I. The church was ruined in the early 18th century, during the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria.
Archaeologists have clearly distinguished two separate building periods based on the basilica's ruins. The Elenska Basilica's middle and western sections are older and constructed out of brick and crushed stones, whereas the more recent eastern section was built out of homogeneous bricks with thick grouts joined using red mortar. Analysis of the church's ruins, which are up to 8.5 metres (28 ft) in height, has established that it was a three-naved basilica. The church's dimensions were 30.5 by 17 m (100 by 56 ft). It featured a large apse in the centre, flanked by two smaller apses. The middle nave was divided into two squares by four identical columns. The narthex, which lay in the church's western section, accommodated a diaconicon and a prothesis. A baptisterium was located in the church's southern section. A 1.6 m (5.2 ft) wide defensive wall surrounded the church. Four rectangular defensive towers were located in each corner of the wall. The towers were almost identical in size and measured around 7.30 by 5.90 m (24.0 by 19.4 ft). The defensive wall is thought to have been 6 to 8 m (20 to 26 ft) tall.
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