In the first centuries of ottoman rule the churches were built low, in a single nave structure dug into the ground and quite often hidden behind a false house façade. In the 19th century the struggle for autonomous Bulgarian church came with the thriving of religious construction by means of donations and volunteering. Until the middle of 19th century the decoration of churches was focused on the interior whereas afterwards, as some of the restrictions concerning the building of churches were lifted, master builders rushed to make beautiful exterior architecture. Temples began to grow in height. Churches were built as a nave and two aisles pseudo basilica with beautiful interior decoration and high bell towers. The churches being the buildings of major significance, together with the clock towers, were the central landmarks in the settlement.

Church architecture, much like the housing architecture, is marked by the signature of the master builder who led the team of builders engaged for its construction. In compliance with the ecclesiastic canons, the original master builders imprinted their artistic insight into the architectural layout of the facades and the interior image of the building.

The church of Saint Archangel Michael was built in 1819 over the foundations of a small single nave church. The new church had a stone roof and wooden bell tower, which was built in 1853. It was a nave and two aisles structure single-apse pseudo basilica with a narthex, dug to 1 – 1.5 m into the ground. An interesting peculiarity of Tryavna churches was their close location   to the central town square – not such a popular solution for the Revival period. Legend has it that the intention for building that church dates back to the 12th century as the will of tzar Kaloian and further tells that in 1194 the relics of Saint John of Rila were sheltered here. It was restored to the way it looks today after the settlement was set on fire by the kirdzhalis in 1798. 

After the settlement was invaded and set on fire by the kirdzhalis back in 1798 the people of Tryavna town decided to restore and rebuild their church. They obtained permission to do so by the then Tarnovo region administrator Feyzi agha, on the express condition that the temple was to be restored only on the existing old foundations. People though decided to avoid the banned construction, so first thing they built a high stone fence enclosing the courtyard and inside they stocked a huge amount of building materials, so that no one could see from the outside what the master builders were doing. They built the church for 40 days and not only they had it restored but also they extended it a lot. It was dug one meter into the ground in compliance with the law. Feyzi agha heard about the building of that church. So he rushed to make an inspection on the site but then the people of Tryavna used a ruse by covering the newly painted walls with straw and burning it to make them look old. Feyzi agha, after receiving a bribe including some gold coins, raised no further questions about the newly built church. The icons and wood carvings in the church are true masterpieces of Tryavna artistic school. All the icons were painted within one year period, from 1820 to 1821. They were the works of papa Vitan, Simeon Tsonev, Johanikii papa Vitanov, Zachariah Tsanyuv and Tsonyu Simeonov. There are also icons that were painted later on. 

The iconostasis was ornamented with wood fretwork, which was made under the supervision and with the participation of papa Vitan Tsonyuv in the period 1819 – 1821, it is the work of master carvers Simeon Koev, Vitan Koev, dyado Doncho and others. The bishop throne was made by father Koyu Vitanov in the middle of 19th century. In 1856 a school for young girls opened doors as part of the educational activities ran by the church.

The church of Saint Archangel Michael is a realty – part of the national cultural heritage.

The Church of Saint George the Victorious 

“1848 – July 12: Laying the foundations for the Church of Saint George in Dolna mahala.”

It is one of the most beautiful works of architect Dimitar Sergyuv, built I the period 1848-1852 on the basis of preliminary design project. The temple is a nave and two aisles single-apse building including an emporium and an open narthex. It was made of huge rectangular stones joined with mortar and lined with stone tiles. A characteristic feature of the works by Dimitar Sergyuv was that he used to sign the buildings he constructed. For the Church of Saint George he inscribed the years of the beginning and at the end of construction. The building is about 24 meters long and about 13 meters wide. In 1874 a multi-class schools was created as part of the church, which became known as the School of Dolna Mahala (the shool in the lower neighborhood). 

The icons were painted by the icon-painter Dosya Koyuv, Tsonyu Simeonov, Johanikii papa Vitanov. The mural paintings date back to the end of 19th century, and were the works of Ivancho Kanev and Yonko Popdimitrov. The iconostasis was made in 1855. Some historians believe it was the work of Dragoshin Marangozov, Nikola Dragoshinov, Penyo Oshanetsa, while others think it was made predominantly by Nikola Dragoshinov and Dimitar Doykovcheto. The pulpit was carved by the great master builder Gencho Kanev from 1852 through 1855. 

The first liturgy in the church took place in 1852 by the well-known chronicler father Yovcho. In 1874 a multi-class school was created as part of the church, better known as the School of Dolna Mahala (the lower neighborhood). 

Many prominent Bulgarian figures visited the church, such as Vasil Levski, who resounded this orthodox temple with ecclesiastical  singing; His Eminence Metropolitan Kliment Tarnovski (Vasil Drumev); His Eminence Ilarion Makariopolski; His Eminence Exarch Anthim I, and others.

The Churches of Saint Archangel Michael and Saint George depict the true essence of Tryavna artistic school. Their decoration is the result of the work of most renowned representatives from the families of wood carvers and icon-painters in Tryavna. 

Universally recognized masterpieces of church construction created by the master builders of Tryavna elsewhere in Bulgaria are the Church of Holy Trinity and the Church of Holy Mother of God in Gabrovo town, the Church of Saints Apostles Peter and Paul in Kotel town, the Church of Saint Brother Cyril and Methodius in Svishtov town, the cathedral temple Dormition of the Holy Mother of God in Varna, the Church of Saint George in Yambol town, and many others.

The Liberation from ottoman power stimulated the construction of new and the restoration of demolished churches. Renovations were mostly undertaken by the apprentices of the master builder of the particular building. Satisfying the requirement for available design documentation, quite simple as it may be, and financial calculation of costs, was sufficient to obtain permission to build. The construction of temples still follows even to nowadays the traditions existing before the Liberation period.