In the early 19th century in Haskovo there was only one small church, which was absolutely insufficient for the newly awoken self-consciousness of the Bulgarians in the town. The wealthy craftsmen and merchants wished to build a new church – bigger and prettier. Persisting, they finally obtained a firman allowing the construction. The works started in 1832 and were completed in 1837. Big amounts of money were spent; the population of the villages and the town also contributed a lot. This united the Bulgarians as a religious and ethnic community.

    The big Holy Mother of God cathedral is an important expression of the national self-consciousness of the Bulgarian community where the town leaders – craftsmen and merchants – played an important role. In the codex of the church we can read the names of some of these great patriots and public figures: Hadji Milko and Dimitraki, Hadji Dobri Genev, Hristodoul Valchev Shishmanov, Zaprian Valchev, Hadji Ivancho Minchev, Pascal Hadji Raichev...

The Holy Mother of God cathedral is a three-nave basilica with semicircle apse internally, heptagonal externally
The decoration comprises rich woodcarving and a few murals. The icons date from the 19th and the early 20th century

    The iconostasis amazes with its beauty and grace of ornaments. The woodcarving of the iconostasis, the bishop’s throne, the pulpit, the ciborium over the throne, the Easter table – kovuk and six proskinitaria (free-standing iconostases for worship) is fascinating. Central part play the floral motifs – tree springs, vine leafs, grape clusters, rosettes, hollyhocks.