Sapareva Banya Сапарева баня | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Sapareva Banya with the geyser | |
  Sapareva Banya Location of Sapareva Banya | |
| Coordinates:42°17′N23°16′E / 42.283°N 23.267°E /42.283; 23.267 | |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Province(Oblast) | Kyustendil |
| Municipality | Sapareva Banya |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Sasho Ivanov |
| Elevation | 983 m (3,225 ft) |
| Population (13.09.2005) | |
• Total | 4,425 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal Code | 2650 |
| Area code | 0707 |
| License Plate | KH |
| Website | www.saparevabanya.bg |
Sapareva Banya (Bulgarian:Сапарева баня,transliteratedSapareva banya) is a town in southwesternBulgaria, part ofKyustendil Province. As Ancient Germania (in Dacia), a former bishopric, it is a Latin Catholictitular see.
It is located at the north foot of theRila mountain15 km east ofDupnitsa. The town is known for its hotmineral (103 °C (217 °F))[1] and clear mountain water, as well as thegeyser in the town centre that sprang forth in 1957.
The former Roman town of Germania (in Dacia) orGermane once stood at the location of modern Sapareva Banya and in the 3rd century was an important town in Dacia province.[2] This, or possiblyGermen, was the birthplace of the greatByzantine generalBelisarius and was mentioned in the 6th century as Γερμανία, Γερμανός, Γέρμεννε. In an 11th-century charter ofByzantine EmperorBasil II (Porphyrogenitus/ the Young), it was listed as Γερμάνεια (Germaneia).
Germania in Dacia was important enough in the lateRoman province ofDacia Mediterranea to become asuffragan bishopric of the MetropolitanArchdiocese of Sardica in the provincial capital (nowSofia), in the sway of thePatriarchate of Constantinople, but the see faded (due to theHuns?). No historical resident Bishop of Germania is recorded.
The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 as LatinTitular bishopric of Germania in Dacia (Latin) /Germania di Dacia (Curiate Italian) / Germanien(sis) in Dacia (Latin adjective).
It is vacant since decades, having had only the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank :
Sapareva Banya is also the seat of Sapareva Banya municipality (part of Kyustendil Province), which includes the following 3 villages:
According to the latest Bulgarian census of 2011, the religious composition, among those who answered the optional question on religious identification, was the following:
| Orthodox Christianity | 97.4% | |||
| Catholicism | 0.2% | |||
| Protestantism | 0.0% | |||
| Islam | 0.0% | |||
| No religion | 0.5% | |||
| Prefer not to answer, others and indefinable | 1.9% | |||
The 12th-13th-centurySt Nicholas Church, the 18th-century St George's Church from theBulgarian National Revival and the Forty Martyrs Church from 1859 are located in Sapareva Banya.
Mineral water of Separeva banya was highly regarded and used as acure by Thracians and Romans. Saparevian mineral water is clear, colorless, with smell ofhydrogen sulfide, hyperthermal (temperature 103 °C), hydrocarbonate, sulphate-sodium, fluorine, silicon and sulphide. Hydrogen sulfide is 15,5 mg / L. It is claimed that the water treats disorders of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, and upper respiratory tract, and metal poisoning.[7]
Capital:Sapareva Banya | ||
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