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When you find yourself in Plovdiv, don’t forget to visit the church "St. St. Constantine and Elena". It is one of the oldest Christian churches in the city. The church is known for its miraculous icon, donated by the family of the donor, Todor Moravenov. Many believers believe that miracles happen in the church and that the icon has healing powers.

The church is located on the ruins of the ancient fortress in the Old Town, right next to Hisarkapiya. The place was already a christian sanctuary at the beginning of the IV century. It was originally dedicated to Severin and Memnos, beheaded here in 304, because of their Christian faith together with 36 Plovdiv martyrs. After the persecutions and the recognition of Christianity in 313 AD by St. Constantine the Great, the church bears his name and that of his mother.

In 1830 the adobe walls of the temple were in ruins. It had its demolition and new construction. For this purpose, the warden of the church – Todor Moravenov, a prominent tailor, born in Koprivshtitsa, collected and supplied 200,000 grosha.

The newly built church was one of the largest of its time – it had area of 470 square meters and was 8 meters high.

The iconostasi is also unique. It was crafted in Vienna by the Bulgarian artist Ivan Pashkula. The thread is entirely in the Baroque style, with coverage of polychrome and gold. All tier altar icons are hand painted by the famous Bulgarian painter Zahari Zograf (from 1836 to 1840 he lived and worked in Plovdiv). His work is also the temple’s icon "St. Constantine and Elena" and "Holy Virgin with the infant", "Jesus Christ the Almighty," "St. John" and others.

In the oldest church in Plovdiv and other values of medieval iconography have been preserved over the centuries. There is a miraculous little icon with the image of Constantine and Elena. Made in the XIV century, many years it was a relic in the family of Todor Moravenov who has given it to the temple after its renovation in 1832. For the miraculous influence of this icon there are legends.

Today, "St. St. Konstantin and Elena" in Plovdiv is the only Orthodox church, whose original Greek mural is completely preserved.

During excavations in the apse of the church were discovered an ancient square tower, connected with the defense of the eastern fortress gate Hisarkapiya and an ossuary holding the bones of dozens of generations of noble local people. Today they are buried to the east outside of the temple.

In the small church library are stored more than 150 ancient liturgical books, some aged over 120 years. Among them the 24-volume interpretation of St. John Chrysostom are most valuable.

The church is the most visited by Bulgarian and foreign tourists Orthodox church in the city, although it is not operating and serves just as a museum.