It is a small one-naved building partially dug into the ground located in the very centre of both the modern and the antique city, in the TZUM underpass.

The church features a semi-cylindrical vault, a hemispherical apse, and a crypt discovered during excavations after the Second World War.

It is today a monument of culture known for its mural paintings from the 14th, 15th, 17th and 19th century depicting biblical scenes.

The adjective samardzhiyski ("of the saddlers") was derived from the Ottoman Turkish word semerci, meaning "saddlemaker".

[4] Nikolai Khaitov, a popular writer,[5] accused Stancheva; archaeologists Georgi Dzhingov and Stamen Mikhailov; Krîstiu Miiatev, director of the Archaeological Institute; and Todor Pavlov, president of the National Academy of Bulgaria of participating in a conspiracy to prevent investigation into Levski's burial site and publicly accused Stancheva of mishandling the remains.