Periodic Report - Second Cycle Section II-Boyana Church 1. World Heritage Property Data 2. Statement of Outstanding Universal Value 1.1 - Name of World Heritage Property 2.1 - Statement of Outstanding Universal Value / Boyana Church Statement of Significance 1.2 - World Heritage Property Details Statement of Outstanding Universal Value State(s) Party(ies) Brief synthesis There are several layers of wall paintings in the interior from Bulgaria the 11th, 13th, 15-17th and 19th centuries which testify to the Type of Property high level of wall painting during the different periods. The cultural paintings with the most outstanding artistic value are those Identification Number from 13th century. Whilst they interpret the Byzantine canon, the images have a special spiritual expressiveness and vitality 42 and are painted in harmonious proportions. Year of inscription on the World Heritage List Criterion (ii): From an architectural point of view, Boyana 1979 Church is a pure example of a church with a Greek cross ground-plan with dome, richly decorated facades and 1.3 - Geographic Information Table decoration of ceramic elements. It is one of the most remarkable medieval monuments with especially fine wall Name Coordinates Property Buffer Total Inscription (latitude/longitude) (ha) zone (ha) year paintings. (ha) Criterion (iii): The Boyana Church is composed of three Boyana 42.65 / 23.267 0.68 13.55 14.23 1979 parts, each built at a different period - 10 century, 13th century Church and 19th century which constitute a homogenous whole. Total (ha) 0.68 13.55 14.23 Integrity The integrity of Boyana church is fully assured. In 1917 a park was created around the church, thereby securing its 1.4 - Map(s) immediate surroundings through being separated from the Title Date Link to source impact of modern traffic. The property has also remained Boyana Church, scale 1:1000 21/12/2007 intact from historic invasions, and other destructive threats. Three separate zones are defined in the property boundaries and buffer zone, through which appropriate control measures 1.5 - Governmental Institution Responsible for the are applied. Property Authenticity Vezhdi Rashidov The concept, form and development of the three Ministry of Culture constructional phases of the property, from the 10th-11th; Minister of Culture 13th; and 19th centuries, are clearly evident. Necessary conservation and restoration works have been completed. Comment Where sufficient evidence existed, later façade renders have The name of the Minister of Culture is Peter Stoyanovich. With been removed to reveal the original appearance of walls. the adoption of the Cultural Heritage Act in 2009 in the To safeguard and present the internal 11th and 12th centuries Ministry of Culture a General directorate inspectorate with a fresco fragments, those from the 13th century, and the later regional inspectors was established, and it has supervision 1882 additions in the antechamber, they were cleaned, refilled and control features at on site. The National Institute of and conserved. This work was completed in 2008. The Immovable Cultural Heritage is a government institute that property is now air-conditioned, and under constant supports the Minister of culture in protection activities of surveillance. immovable cultural properties. Protection and management requirements The management is implemented by virtue of: 1.6 - Property Manager / Coordinator, Local Institution / - Cultural Heritage Law (Official Gazette No 19 of 2009) and Agency subdelegated legislation. This law regulates the research, Mariana Christova-Trifonova studying, protection and promotion of the immovable cultural Boyana Church National Museum heritage in Bulgaria, and the development of Conservation Director and Management plans for its inscribed World Heritage List of National Museum of History immovable cultural properties. - Instructions on the Protection and Preservation of the World Comment Monument "Boyana Church" and its Protective Zone were Email: [email protected] adopted by Official Cover Letter No.RD-91-00-17, signed by the Chairman of the Culture Committee, and dated 1.7 - Web Address of the Property (if existing) 10.08.1989. These Instructions are mandatory and set out the responsibilities of the interested parties, including the state, Comment local institutions and owners. www.boyanachurch.org 2.2 - The criteria (2005 revised version) under which the 1.8 - Other designations / Conventions under which the property was inscribed property is protected (if applicable) (ii)(iii) Comment Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe /1985/ Page 1 Monday, October 13, 2014 (3:10:41 PM CEST) Periodic Report - Section II-Boyana Church World Heritage Centre Periodic Report - Second Cycle Section II-Boyana Church 2.3 - Attributes expressing the Outstanding Universal Value per criterion From an architectural point of view, Boyana Church is a pure example of a church with a Greek cross ground-plan with dome, richly decorated facades and decoration of ceramic elements. It is one of the most remarkable medieval monuments with especially fine wall paintings. The Boyana Church is composed of three parts, each built at a different period - 10 century, 13th century and 19th century which constitute a homogenous whole. 2.4 - If needed, please provide details of why the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value should be revised We do not find any need to change the SOUV. 2.5 - Comments, conclusions and / or recommendations related to Statement of Outstanding Universal Value We consider that the current Statement of OUV reflects the outstanding universal value of the Property. 3. Factors Affecting the Property 3.14. Other factor(s) 3.14.1 - Other factor(s) Page 2 Monday, October 13, 2014 (3:10:41 PM CEST) Periodic Report - Section II-Boyana Church World Heritage Centre Periodic Report - Second Cycle Section II-Boyana Church 3.15. Factors Summary Table 3.15.1 - Factors summary table Name Impact Origin 3.1 Buildings and Development 3.1.1 Housing 3.1.4 Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure 3.1.5 Interpretative and visitation facilities 3.2 Transportation Infrastructure 3.2.1 Ground transport infrastructure 3.2.4 Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure 3.7 Local conditions affecting physical fabric 3.7.1 Wind 3.7.2 Relative humidity 3.7.3 Temperature 3.7.4 Radiation/light 3.7.5 Dust 3.7.6 Water (rain/water table) 3.7.7 Pests 3.7.8 Micro-organisms 3.8 Social/cultural uses of heritage 3.8.2 Society's valuing of heritage 3.8.6 Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation 3.10 Climate change and severe weather events 3.10.2 Flooding 3.10.6 Temperature change 3.11 Sudden ecological or geological events 3.11.2 Earthquake 3.11.6 Fire (widlfires) 3.12 Invasive/alien species or hyper-abundant species 3.12.2 Invasive/alien terrestrial species 3.13 Management and institutional factors 3.13.1 Low impact research / monitoring activities 3.13.3 Management activities Legend Current Potential Negative Positive Inside Outside 3.16. Assessment of current negative factors 3.16.1 - Assessment of current negative factors Spatial scale Temporal scale Impact Management Trend response 3.11 Sudden ecological or geological events 3.11.2 Earthquake restricted one off or rare insignificant high capacity decreasing Page 3 Monday, October 13, 2014 (3:10:41 PM CEST) Periodic Report - Section II-Boyana Church World Heritage Centre Periodic Report - Second Cycle Section II-Boyana Church heritage in Bulgaria, and the development of Conservation 3.17. Comments, conclusions and / or and Management plans for its inscribed World Heritage List of immovable cultural properties. recommendations related to factors affecting the - Instructions on the Protection and Preservation of the World property Monument "Boyana Church" and its Protective Zone were adopted by Official Cover Letter No.RD-91-00-17, signed by 3.17.1 - Comments the Chairman of the Culture Committee, and dated In 2014 the Ministry of Culture funded the replacement of the 10.08.1989. These Instructions are mandatory and set out the air conditioning system that supports the necessary storage responsibilities of the interested parties, including the state, conditions of the murals. Significant amount of conservation- local institutions and owners. restoration activities covering the frescoes. 2013 - The Periodic Reporting Cycle 1 (2001-2006) Section 2 National Institute of immovable cultural heritage has issued an Source: Periodic Reporting Cycle 1 (2001-2006) analytical report on the state of the site that contains relevant Submitted on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 prescriptions for conservation In 2012 after an earthquake of Question 6.02 3.6 degrees on the Richter scale, a commission appointed by The management is conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Minister of Culture registered a slight infractions of some the Law on Cultural Monuments and Museums /SG #29 fragments of the frescoes in the Boyana Church. In 2014 the dated 1969, subsequently amended and supplemented / and Ministry of Culture funded the restoration of this part of the in compliance with the secondary legislation. frescoes. Under the existing legislative rules and procedures Instructions on Protection and Preservation of the World 4. Protection, Management and Monitoring of the Monument of Culture “Boyana Church” and its Protective Property Zone was adopted /by Official Cover Letter No.RD-91-00-17 dated 10.08.1989 , signed by the Chairman of the Culture Committee /. 4.1. Boundaries and Buffer Zones The Instructions are mandatory and set out the responsibilities of the interested state and local institutions 4.1.1 - Buffer zone status and the owners. There is a buffer zone (See regulations in Annex 06.02.) 4.1.2 - Are the boundaries of the World Heritage property Comment adequate to maintain the property's Outstanding 6.02 The Law on Cultural Monuments and Museums is Universal Value? canceled. Statutory - Since 2009 the Cultural Heritage Act is in The boundaries of the World Heritage property are adequate force, and it contains provisions for world cultural properties.