The Preobrazhenski monastery

The Transfiguration monastery is located 7 km from Veliko Tarnovo; the road to the monastery diverts left off the central highway Veliko Tarnovo – Russe. The monastery of God’s Transfiguration is one of the famous monasteries which beginning is hidden in the far medieval past. This monastery is the largest one in the region of Veliko Tarnovo and the most visited. The name of...

The Sveta Troitza Monastery

The Sveta Troitza Monastery (Monastery of the Holy Trinity)   The monastery also known as Patriarch, Asen, or Shishman Monastery is located at 6 km from Veliko Tarnovo, at the foot of beautiful and impressive cliffs, right off from the road Veliko Tarnovo-Russe. The name of the monastery is connected with the literary work of the monk Evtimiy till he was chosen a Patriarch in 1375. Here ...

St. Apostoles Peter and Pavel

The monastery is perched over the high and inaccessible rocks of the Arbanasi plateau, 6km to the northeast of Veliko Tarnovo. It is believed that the monastery was built during the rule of the Asenevtsi family. After Bulgaria was included within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire, it was several times set on fire and then rebuilt. The monastery was among the most active participants in the ...

The Kilifarevo monastery

The Kilifarevo monastery was built between 1348 and 1350. Its founder is the renowned Bulgarian clergyman, Teodosii of Tarnovo, who with the help of the Tsar Ivan Alexander, transformed the cloister into one of the most important center of the Bulgarian education and literature of the Middle Ages. The large-scale cultural center was being completely destroyed shortly after the invasion of the Ot...

The Plakovo monastery

The Plakovo monastery (dedicated to St. Prophet Elijah) was founded during the times of the Second Bulgarian State and it was destroyed with the subjection of Bulgaria under Ottoman rule. It was not reconstructed before 1450, but only to be repeatedly set on fire and raided afterwards. In 1835, the monastery hosted the famous Velcho’s Plot, with one of the leaders of anti-Ottoman p...

Kapinovo Monastery

The Kapinovo Monastery is one of the largest monasteries in Bulgaria. It was established in 1272. The present building was built in 1825, and the monastery church " Saint Nikola " - in 1835, as the inscription on the cornice above the altar indicates. The first floor was built of stone and was used for the defense of the monastery against the enemy attacks. The second was made of materia...

Dryanovski monastery St. Archangel Michael

The Dryanovo monastery is situated in the valley of the Dryanovska River, in a nice karst site that offers picturesque views and sensation of peace and harmony. The monastery was founded in the end of the 12th century during the time of active state and church building carried out by the kings from the dynasty of the Assens. It was destroyed during the time of the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans ...

Arbanassian monastery "St. Nicola"

An unknown woodcarver had worked in the monastery. His sharp chisel carved in the wood biblical scenes, twigs, flowers, leaves. The icons of saints, warriors, bookmen in “St. Nicola” make it captivating work of art. The ancient monastery is nestling in a small valley in the South side of the village of Arbanassi. By that side you can see Tarnovgrad and Tzarevetz, the river Yantra roun...

Sokolski monastery

The Sokolski Monastery is situated at the distance of 4km from Etara and 12km southeast of the center of Gabrovo, at the foot of Stara planina Mountain, at the bank of Yantra river. It was established in 1832-1833 by archbishop Joseph of Sokolovo and hieromonk Agapi, who had built a small wooden church, destroyed a year later. Soon after on the same place the main church of the monastery was built...

Holy Virgin's Monastery

"Holy Virgin's Monastery" is smaller than "St Nicolas" and was built in the northwestern part of the village. It represents a complex of a church, residential buildings and a chapel. During the first years of the Turkish slavery it was a working and prosperous monastery, but after the kurdjalii's invasion it falls into decay and is abandoned. As late as in 1680 it was built t...

The Church of St. George

This church lies under the southern slope of Trapezitsa hill, on the Right Bank of the Yantra River. It was built and decorated in the year 1616. The mural paintings of the church are partially preserved. On the eastern wall besides the traditional scene “The Adoration of the Sacrifice” and “The Divine Liturgy” of interest are  “The hospitality of Abraham”,...

The Church of St. Demetrius of Salonica

The church is situated at the northeastern slope of Trapezitsa, on the Right Bank of the Yantra River. The church belonged to a large monastery complex. The remains of the foundation of the foundations of the monastery buildings are preserved. The church is connected with important events in the history of Bulgaria – the proclamation of the rebellion against Byzantium by the brothers Assen a...

The Church of Sts. Peter and Paul

The church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is located at the foot of the northern slope of Tsarevets. There is information that the church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and the monastery around it were build on the order of Queen Ann (1221-1237), the wife of King Ivan Assen II. After the fall of Turnovo under the Turks the Bulgarian Patriarchy was moved in the church of the Holy Apostle...

The Church of the Forty Holy Martyrs

A medieval church built probably in the 12th C. during the rule of Tsar Kaloyan. In the 13th C. it is renewed by Tsar Ivan Asen II to commemorate his victory over the Epir despot Kir Theodoros Comnenos at Klokotnitsa. The church is a late basilica with rich ceramic-plastic decoration on the facades. Fragments from the original mural paintings, dating back to 1230, are exhibited in the Archaeologic...

St Atanas' Church

St Atanas' Church is the smallest Arbanassi church. It was built in the second middle of XVII c. in the northeastern side of the village. On the southern side of the church is situated the St. Haralambi chapel. The entire church is wall-painted. There were found several paint layers - from XVII and XVIII c. Teachers Tzoyu and Nedyu painted the chapel in 1726. The compositions of interest are The...

The church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel

The church building consists of an altar space, single naos with semicircular singing niches in the northern and southern walls, and a narthex. A chapel dedicated to St. Paraskeva is erected along the whole northern wall and there is a spacious entrance to the west. The construction chronology is still being debated. The possible completion dates of the church that has survived to the present fa...

The Church of the Nativity

  “The Nativity” is the oldest church in the picturesque village of Arbanassi, included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List of valuable cultural sites. It was built in the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. It comprises men’s department, women’s department, a gallery that surrounds them to the North and South, and a chapel called “St. Jo...

Merdanski monastery Forty Holy Martyrs

The Merdanski monastery ,,Forty Holy Martyrs”is situated in the eastern end of the village Merdanya which is around Veliko Tarnovo and immediately next to the asphalt which connect Veliko Tarnovo and Elena. At around 1,5 km from the actual monastery in the countryside ,,The Ears”are found some remains of a medieval monastery about which people supposing that they are from the time of ...

Arbanassi Monasteries

    The village of Arbanassi was established during the period between the end of the XV and the beginning of the XVI century. During the subsequent century the social group of citizens of this region had a special statute, which contributed to the development of the trade and handicrafts. The settlers professed the Christian faith and as time goes by they built Orthodox temples wit...

Arbanassi Churches And Architecture 16th Century, Beginning Of 18th Century

During the studied period Arbanassi is one of the few settlements where a significant number of churches were built. Only the bishopric center Melnik (south Bulgaria) can compare with Arbanassi in terms of religious architecture, but it was only renovation and reconstruction of medieval churches that took place there. The fundamental construction features of the Arbanassi churches are in line with...

The Holidays Of The Holy Apostles Peter And Pavel and The Dog-days

29 June is the Summer Holiday of St. Peter which is connected with the Holy apostles Peter and Pavel. As a tradition on this day people break their two-week fast with a votive offering of a chicken for the saint and a red early apple as a symbol for preserving the heavenly garden.     Church-goers from the town of Lyaskovets, Gorna Oryahovitsa and the village of Arbanassi crowd at ...

The Holy Transfiguration And The Assumption (The Virgin Mary s Day)

THE HOLY TRANSFIGURATION AND THE ASSUMPTION  (THE VIRGIN MARY’S DAY)         The Transfiguration is a big Christian and popular Holiday. It is connected with a miraculous event – the advent of Jesus Christ in celestial glory in front of three of his students – Petеr, Yaakov and John, in order to strengthen the faith in His Heavenly nature. ...

The Bear's Day

On 30th  November Bulgarian Orthodox church celebrates the name of saint Andrew who is called like that because he first from the apostles was called to go behind Christ. The fisherman Andrew was standing at the coast of Jordania river when Joan Precursor showed of the people the walking Christ and said: ,,Here is God’s Agnus!” As soon as Andrew heard that he went behind The Sav...