It is one of the main symbols and cultural sights in the city and also in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria.

The history of the church dates back to first half of the 17th century, mentioned in Ottoman reports.

In 1680, Luigi Marsili mentioned that in the town, there was a church called ''St Mary''.

In the 18th century, the church was a centre of literature, where liturgical books were written.

[8] In 1914 the church was painted inside and outside by the grandson of Makri Frachkovski - Apostol Hristov, and his partner G.

[9] In 1964, the church was declared an architectural and artistic monument of national importance and included in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria.

Several detailed researches were made by the National Institute for Cultural Monuments (NICM) between 1980 and 1990.

The building was constructed by master architects from Peshtera Petar Kazov, his brother Dimitar and their fellow resident Kuzman Michov.

[11] It was built as a three aisled pseudo-basilica,[6] but without a dome, typical for the Bulgarian Revival architectures during the 1830s.

The original frescoes of high artistic value in the building are found only in the chapels and in the lower parts of the inner terrace.The oldest frescoes date back to 1838, when the church was painted, according to the surviving inscription on the roof.

It was made by masters led by Makriy Negriyev Fruchkovski, whose grave is behind the altar of the church.