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Cathedral "St. Mary" in Pazardzhik is the largest National Revival church in Bulgaria. It was built in 1836-1837 as a large pseudo-basilica with two external galleries, built on the beautiful arcades.

One of the symbols of Pazardjik, along with the Clock Tower and the old mail building is the cathedral church "St. Mary". It is the largest preserved National Revival church in the country. It was built in 1836-1837 year. The creation of the chapel mingles historical chronicles and legends.

The church is an architectural and artistic monument of national importance. It is of an outstanding cultural and historical value for its architecture and magnificent wood-carved iconostasis. The multi-faceted openwork carving is a unique combination of geometric, floral and animal ornaments, which are intertwined into figural compositions, depicting biblical scenes. The iconostasis impresses with its stylish sophistication, elegance and complexity of composition, richness of shades, purity of form and certainty of execution.

The magnificent iconostasis is the work of craftsmen of the Debar School. Human figures are also introduced in the whole composition. For its preparation were needed a large amount of money - 70 000 grosha, so the citizens of Pazardzhik had to take a loan from Bank Vienna.

Pazardzhik people say that the iconostasis was made from seven masters for seven months. But according to Professor Ivan Batakliev, author of "History of the church "St. Mary" in Pazardzhik" theiconostasis was created between 1840 and 1845. Created by master Makri Negriev Frckovski from the town Galichnik near Debar and his four sons (two - painters and the other two - sculptors).

In 1895 part of the central column of the door of the iconostasis burned, but four years later, Master Nestor Alexiev from Osoy near Debar rebuild it, just in the style of other parts of the iconostasis.

The icons in the church are from different years, saved from fire in 1834, but the latest are from 1914, when was the last painting of the church. Not all icons are dated. The oldest dated icon "St. Dionysius" was created in 1815, at the time of Bishop Dionysius. Another icon is the old "St. Virgin Mary" gift of the journeymen of the tailor's guild, in the case of the guild council in 1827.

Interesting is the history of the cathedral "St. Virgin" in Pazardzhik. According to legend, the myudyur - former Turkish governor of the city issued the permission to build the Bulgarian church, but he put the seemingly impossible condition that the building should not be bigger than a cowhide with the usual requirement not to be higher than the mosque. Locals cut the cowhide into thin strips, which outlined the foundations of the building. The governor admired their ingenuity and he allowed the construction. Then the building was dug into the ground and so it complied with the height condition.