Contact us Български  History of Asenovgrad  Asen's Fortress  Natural landmarks and sightseeings  Religious Targets  Houses and Museums  Traditions and Holidays  Important events  Photogallery   Religious Targets   Today, Asenovgrad is rich with its new architecture, new center and the relics of its centuries-old architectural heritage - houses, churches with belfries - and with its numerous chapels, which variegate the town and which are scattered in its hilly surroundings. Monasteries "The Assumption of the Holy Virgin" Monastery of Bachkovo Every meeting with the Bulgarian monasteries makes us think of them as supporters of the Bulgarian spirit and of our cultural tradition across the centuries. "The Assumption of the Holy Virgin" Monastery of Bachkovo is a holy place for all Bulgarians. The monastery not only keeps all that is preserved as a blessed heritage throughout centuries, but it also frees the national spirit and vitality at the time of the Bulgarian Revival and becomes a repository of historical valuables. The Bachkovo Monastery is situated in the northern part of Central Rhodopes, in the Valley of River Asenitsa, 10 km away from the town of Asenovgrad. It was founded in 1083 by two brothers Georgians Grigoriy and Abbasiy Bakouriany, high military commanders in the army of the Byzantine emperor. The Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest monastery after the Rila Monastery. Top Monastery churches and other buildings The monastery buildings form a rectangle and close a big yard. In the middle of the yard the following churches are located: "The Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel" (from the 12th century) and "Saint Virgin Mary" built in the 17th century. There are also two-storied buildings for monks and for pilgrims and guests. The monastery cellars had lied deep in the earth. The two-storied building, which surrounds the lower monastery yard now, was built in 1601. The monastery cellar with a warehouse and the antique monastery kitchen are on the lower floor. The cook-house is preserved in its original outlook as an interesting ethnographical place. The old monastery refectory (1623) is situated next to the monastery kitchen. There is a long dining-table in the refectory, made of local marble and with an inscription, consisting of eight lines which point out the year 1601. The refectory is a unique wall-painting gallery, dating back from the 17th century. The east monastery wing is constructed with thick stone walls and loop-holes. There are rooms for guests and tourists with 150 sleeping accommodations on the second floor. There are storehouses, baths, and ovens in the west wing of the monastery. There are also monastic cells, a library and personable apartments on the floors over the ground floor. The new kitchen of the monastery, the dining-room and the museum collection are on the ground floor in the north wing of the monastery. The "Saint Nicholas" church and other buildings in the south yard were built in the period 1834-1836. There you can see an amazing architectural ensemble from the Revival time. There are some chapels in the monastery surroundings: "St. Dimitar Solunski", "St. Todor", "St. Apostles Petar and Pavel", "St. Archangels". "The Virgin Mary" Church The church was built in 1604. We can say that it is the only one monumental building from the 17th century in Bulgaria. It is cross-domed church, with a polyhedral drum cupola with 12 windows on it. This church is a unique Bulgarian monument with its grandeur and with its architectural decision, quite unusual for the early 17th century. A special place in that church is designated for the icon of "Saint Virgin Mary" from the year 1311. It was a present by two travelers from Georgia. This is the sacred icon of the monastery. People say it is miraculous. To survive till nowadays the icon had been hidden in unapproachable rocks and caves in the monastery surroundings. The oldest religious ceremony in the monastery is to take out the miraculous icon from the church and to bring it to the Kluviata spring. The ceremony is held every year on the second day after Easter. The big monastery church becomes a pantheon of the Bulgarian first-hierarchs. There are white stone sarcophagus of exarch Stefan the First and the Bulgarian patriarch Cyril in the central part of the church, on the both sides of the narthex. Top The "Saint Archangels" Church The church was built after the death of the monastery founders during the reign of Emperor Alexius Comnin the First. His portrait is on one of the supporting columns of the church. The church is one-nave, with a small drum cupola with oblong windows, which assure much light for the temple. Joan Mosh decorated it in 1846. The Imposing Monastery Panorama This is the biggest panorama in the whole Balkan Peninsula. The panorama has been exposed to the all atmospheric influences, but in spite of that the freshness of its colors has been preserved. It was painted by Alexi Atanasov. He is Bulgarian from the town of Negush. He worked in this region during the 19th century. The year 1846 is approximately the time when he painted the panorama. It is interesting not only with its large scale but with its creative conception and presentation. The paints are maid following the recipe of the painter himself - probably of grasses, mixed with an egg-emulsion. The painter used a special technique of painting, called fresco painting. The Old Refectory of the Monastery The unknown painter has left something amazing here. His creative genius, his mastership and artistic talent are collected in the drawn scenes and images. An inscription above the entrance points out the year 1643. The refectory presents is an exquisite wall-painting gallery of the medieval art. It is a source of aesthetic delight. It marks a new decorative style in our medieval art and is in itself an original exposition of the monastery interior from the early 17th century. The Grave of Saint Patriarch Euthimius A legend said for a long time that a holy person had been buried under the sanctuary of the "St. Archangels" church. After long-lasting disputes and investigations, it was accepted that this was the grave of the first Bulgarian Patriarch - Euthimius Turnovski. The monastery museum The exposition of the museum is small and consists of antique icons, dating back from the 15th-16th century; embroideries over liturgical vestment; silver gold-plated covers of the Gospels, church plates, coins, national ornaments, etc. Top The Ossuary of Bachkovo Experts from the "Louver" in Paris have included the ossuary in the list of sites with the greatest importance for the medieval monumental art painting. It supposed that their author is the legendary master of the mature Middle-Ages period - John Iviropulos. The Ossuary is the oldest building in the monastery, dating back from its foundation. It is situated in the "Kluvia" area, 300 km away from the monastery, in the western direction. It is a one-nave, two-storied building. First of all it impresses with its imposing architecture and its magnificent painting patterns with the richness of the tints and the beauty of the lines. The Ossuary elegance impresses, especially when you look at it from south and south-west - with its eight overarched bays, with the rhythmically repeated construction materials - freestone and bricks, soldered with mortar. The Ossuary mural paintings have their place on the scale of medieval art painting not only in our lands, but also in the lands of the Balkan Peninsula, the whole Mediterranean area and Russia. Zachary Zograph It is not possible to describe the Bachkovo Monastery without mentioning Zachary Zograph and his activity for the monastery. He took up with drawing the church "St.Nicholas" in 1839. There is a great decorative abundance of forms-geometrical, baroque and plant in his wall-paintings. His art of painting is with a marked worldly trend and a carving for beauty. Z. Zograph's self-portrait is in the upper left narthex. He is the first one to draw himself with church donors on the walls of the church. There is no such parallel in the Byzantine, Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches. When Zachary Zograph painted the "St. Nicholas" church, he gave an evidence for his proverbial productive activity. He painted scenes with over 600 images (separately or in composition) in less than 2 years. There are 135 of them in the narthex, 319 in the central part and 75 in the altar. His art-painting is unique with its rich colors and its poetical tints, taken from the bright coloring of our pitchers and woven rugs from the time of the Bulgarian Revival. That's why his art is felt to be particularly close to the people in that it is comprehensible as one that has marked a break from the medieval canon tradition. Many worshippers and thousands of Bulgarian and foreign tourists visit the Bachkovo cloister. Pilgrims from all parts of the country come here on the two great religious holidays of the monastery - the patron saint's day or "The Assumption of the Holy Virgin" (15th August) and "Prepolovenie" (25 days after Easter). Top The "Saint Martyr Nedelya" Arapovski Monastery This is the only Bulgarian monastery that was built in the fields at the time of the Ottoman yoke. It is located in the land of the village of Zlatovruch, eight kilometers away from the eastern part of Asenovgrad. It was founded in 1854 as a typical monastic hostel. Then after 3 years it became a whole monastery complex. As far as we know its original founders were the archimandrites Sophronii and Gerasim. There is an impressive three-domical stone church, with a nave and 2 aisles, with a cupola and a narthex. It was built in 1859. As regards to its architecture, the monastery is distinctive with its great diversity, original design and it mixture of styles in the two-storied and three-storied buildings. It is interesting to see the unique residential tower, built by Angel Voivoda (as far as the legend says undoubted by anyone till now). He was a widely-known defender of the people at the time of the Ottoman yoke. The holy spring is not far from the monastery building. The fountain in it is one of the most interesting monastery stone fountains. Its front side is made of five big stone blocks: one as a cornice, two on the sideways and two forming the body structure of the fountain with figures and pictures in relief. There are five polished cypress trees, cut down above the spout, and above them we find the forms of two lions standing opposite one another with a cross between them. The monastery has special historical value, because a local secret revolutionary committee was founded here. It was led by the monastery abbot himself-father Gevrasii. Arapovski Monastery is remarkable first off all with the incredible picturesque decorations of its church, which was the work of famous Bulgarian artist Georgi Danchov-Zographina. Top "The Reverend Petka of Bulgaria" Monastery in Mouldava The monastery is situated in the northern foot of the Rhodope Mountains, 7 km away from the south-east of Asenovgrad. As the legend goes, it was founded at the end of the 14th century and at the beginning of the 15th century. Two-storied housing buildings with open balconies and with a high monastery wall enclose a spacious yard. The cathedral church with its high belfry tower is situated in the middle of the yard. The specialists have found in the frescoes of the open narthex the high richness of contrastive colors and attempts to draw vital human portraits. These frescoes are estimated as one of the supreme achievements in the art of painting during the Bulgarian Revival. Some of the specialists even argue that these works of art are better - in terms of their coloring - than those painted by Zachary Zograph in the Bachkovo Monastery. There are some valuable icons preserved in the church, painted by Petar Miniov in 1836. In 1836 Zachary Zograph painted the icon "Virgin Mary from Kickos", especially designed for the church of the monastery. He also painted the magnificent icon "Virgin Mary: "The life-giving source". The holy spring is situated near to the monastery. It is the old holy-spring of the chapel "St. Kozma and Damyan", built in 1880. In the time of the Ottoman rule, the monastery was an important literary center. It was one of the safest shelters of our "apostle of liberty" - Vasil Levski. His bas-relief is situated on the stone wall. "Saint Martyrs Kirik and Julita" Monastery It is one of the most visited spiritual centers in this region. It is located 3 km away from Asenovgrad, quite close to Gorno Voden district. The complex includes a church, a holy spring and a chapel 500 m away from them. The buildings form an almost square yard. The eastern residential side with the central monastery facade is the best preserved building. The facade is long and with many windows, with a heavy wooden gate in the center and with a beautiful bay-window above it. In the middle of the vast monastery yard, surrounded by the residential buildings, raises the stone church under the name of "Saint Paraskeva". The icon-painting decorations of the church, made in the period 1847-1850, were assigned to the master from the Aton artistic studios Alexius Atanasov assisted by his students. Amidst all the beautiful paintings from the National Revival period, several precious icons stand out, six of which are made by the hand of the great painter of that period Zachary Zograph: "Virgin Mary", "Saint Paraskeva", "Saint Atanas", "Jesus Christ", "Saint Joan the Precursor" and "Virgin Mary-The Source of Life". The icon "Saint Martyrs Kirik and Julita" on the right ark is his work as well. The holy spring and the chapel are built above a little terrace. The "St. Martyrs Kirik and Julita" chapel is 6 km away from the holy spring. It is a temple with one apse without a narthex. It was built from stone and freestone blocks. Alexius Atanasov painted its walls in 1862. Top "The Lord's Cross" Monastery (Also known as "Krastova Gora") "Krastova Gora" is situated at a height of 1545 m above the sea level. The cross - the symbol of the Christian faith - raises up at the highest end of the meadow for many decades. The Bachkovo Monastery dairy farm was situated here many years ago. A lot of monks were sent here. Probably at that time a little monastery was established here. The monastery was called "The Holy Trinity" and was subordinated to the Bachkovo holy cloister. It is supposed that the monks entreated the abbot of the Bachkovo Monastery to give them the big Bakurianova icon. This icon was made of golden alloy, with small fragments from the life-giving cross of Christ. They wanted to adorn the monastery church with that icon. In the 30-ies of the past century pilgrims from the whole country started to come here, hoping to see the icon and to find healing in it. In the end of the 80-ies of the past century, the local people initiated a subscription in order to collect funds for the construction of a new Orthodox church at "Krastova Gora". In the autumn of 1995 the building was finished. In the following years, 12 new chapels were built near the temple with donations made by faithful Christians throughout the country. The preface of the book "Alleluia on the Hill "Saint Trinity" - "Krastova Gora" says that no one ever leaves that place without a comfort in his heart. This is the only place where there is an all-night vigil and a mass carried out every Friday night, from early spring to late autumn. A lot of Christians come here to pray for God's forgiveness and healing. It is believed that if a person stays there under the stars, be it for one night only and prays with true belief and love in his heart, he will gets the power to manage with all the hardships of life, i.e. his prayers will be heard. Top Churches "Saint Holy Virgin - The Annunciation", also called "Ribnata" It is located in the eastern part of the town Asenovgrad. The byname "Ribnata" ("The fish church") is connected with the clear water spring near it, which is considered to be healing. The church was built on the basis of an old temple-monument. The building is a big one-apse church with a cupola built in the period 1830-1836. There are many valuable icons here. The most significant religious procession in the town, called "Prepolovenie", is connected with this church. Every year on the 15th of May, people from Asenovgrad and the surroundings take out on their hands the icon of the Holy Mother and carry it to the Monastery of Bachkovo. The "Saint Joan the Precursor" chapel is situated on the western side of the church. It was painted by Zachary Zograph. "Saint Holy Virgin - The Assumption" Church People also call it "The deep church". The Greeks called it "Mesihora", i.e. situated near the town center. It is a three-nave, one-apse church with a narthex and a special department for women in the past. It was built by Master Dimo Georgiev and his son T. Dimov of Kosturdsko in the 18th century. Very close to the church we find a tower with a clock, which is outwardly painted. Top "St. Ivan Rilski" Church It is a new-built temple (2003). It is located near the military base of Asenovgrad. It is the first church built in this part of the town. Its construction was made with the financial help of Asenovgrad people. "St Atanasii Aleksandriiski" Church It is located near the town center. It was built in 1834. Dimitar and George Milchevi made the ornamental decorations. The figured paintings date back to 1022. "Saint Trinity" Church It is located at the town center behind the Post office in Asenovgrad. It is a three-domed church with a nave and two aisles. The church was built with the sources - money and materials - of Bulgarian and Greek people, who lived there. There are wall-paintings in the church. George Ksaff painted the old icons notable for their high artistic value. The church belfry was built in 1936. "St. Dimitar of Solun" Church This is a domed church with a nave and 2 aisles, with a narthex and a belfry. It was built between the years 1866 and 1686. It was painted in 1930. Bulgarians got a special "irade" (sultan decree) from Istanbul to build the church. "St Nickola Mirlikiiski" Church It is located in a big yard in the south-western part of the town. It is with three nave church and with one apse. Unexpectedly some Coin and crosses were found under its yard during the construction process. Top "St. George" Church in Ambelino quarter It is situated in the south-western part of Asenovgrad, on the right riverside of Asenitsa. There was a little temple there before the construction of the church. It was built in 1848 by Master Vasil Dimov. The church building is pseudo basilica with three domes. Its external architecture is very rich. The belfry rises up at the westernmost side of the high stone walls. It makes part of a magnificent ensemble, which is in full harmony with the rocky slope of the mountains. The church is a representative of the imposing temples of the Revival period. It is a cultural monument of great national importance. "Saint Archangel Michael" - Church in "The East" quarter - it is not finished yet. "St. George"Church in "The Metoha" quarter Its first building dates back from the 12th - 14th centuries. In the past it was a big church with one nave and two aisles. The construction is simple and strict. It is interesting to see the wood-carved iconostasis dating back from the end of the 18th century and the highly artistic wall-paintings drawn on the northern facade by Zachary Zograph. "St. Marina" Church It is located on the yard of the Stomatological Policlinic in Asenovgrad. Its construction is not finished yet. Top Chapels They were a source of national spirit and dignity during the Revival period. These chapels keep many legends full of secrets. The chapels of Asenovgrad are a unique cultural phenomenon in Bulgaria, which can not be seen anywhere else. "Saint virgin Mary the Little" Chapel It is located in the bastion of the Asen's Fortress, in the lowland, in south-western direction from "St. Virgin Mary" Church. The original first building dates back from the 19th century. Only its bases are partially revealed to us today. "St. Martyrs Konstantin and Helena" Chapel It is with a nave with one apse on the altar. It is located under the Metoh area. The chapel was built in the 9th century. "St. George" (The Upper Chapel) This chapel is 300 years old. It was restored on an old basis (10th century) in 1856. The chapel has been reconstructed many times. It is with one nave with no apse altar. "St. George" (The Lower Chapel) "St. Martyrs Petar and Pavel" Chapel It is built on a terrain, which was originally Thracian sanctuary under the name "The 40 springs". The chapel is with one nave and one apse. It was renovated in the end of the 19th century. "Saint Dimitar" ("Bakurianovia") It is located in the area above Gorno Voden Village. Grigorii Bakuriani built his castle there in the 11th century. The chapel was renovated in 1995. "St. Jani" ("Boinitsata") It is situated near the western side of Asenovgrad. Its patron is Joan the Precursor. The chapel is built on a rock and it is inaccessible from the north and the north-west. Its first construction dates back from the 11th-13th centuries. The chapel is with a nave and one aisle. It is a cultural monument of national importance. It was reconstructed in 2000. Top "St. Varvara" - this beautiful chapel is with a nave and narthex. "St. Nickola" It is located in the western direction from the Asen's Fortress. It was built in the 17th century. The chapel is restored in 1999-2000. "Saint Triffon Zarezan" It is located in the Ambelino quarter. The chapel was built in the 18th century. It is with one nave and an aisle. "All Saints" Chapel The chapel has an ossuary in its basement. As the legend goes, this is the place, where Paisii Hilendarski died. He was buried in "St. Stefan" chapel, the legend continues. "Saint Stilian" Chapel It has a basement with an ossuary. The original building dates back from the 17th century. There is an icon of Saint Mary - Elleusa. It was the work of the icon-painter master Hristo Odrinchanin. The icon dates back from the 1849. The chapel was renovated in 1935. "St. Nickola Mirlikiiski" Chapel It was built before the 11th century. It was the place where the Russian General Dandevil was welcomed. He announced the Liberation of Asenovgrad here in 1878. "St. Petka" Chapel It dates back from the 19th century. The chapel is situated on a rock above "St. Holy Virgin - the Annunciation" church. It was reconstructed in 1999. "St. Todor" Chapel It is with one nave and with one isle. A marble block - a square pink marble column - was found in its altar. This block is preserved in the Historical Museum of Asenovgrad. It is considered that the block is a fragment of an ancient sanctuary (the 1-3rd centuries). It is decorated with ram heads cut out in relief, with ornaments raised above their horns. St. Mary's Birth - "Ephaniromeni" Chapel It is located in the south of "St. Jani" chapel. It was built in the 19th century. There is a big old fountain near it. "The Presentation of the Holy Virgin" Chapel It was built in the 19th century and it was reconstructed in the 20th century. The above mentioned chapels represent only a part of the numerous chapels found in Asenovgrad. Undoubtedly we can say that they are part of the national cultural heritage of Bulgaria. They are a brilliant illustration of our culture and theological erudition. Top Holy Springs in Asenovgrad "Saint Martyrs Kozma I Damian" - in the "Reverend Petka of Bulgaria" Monastery. "Saint Joan the Precursor" - in the "Saint Holy Virgin - The Annunciation", also called "Ribnata". "Saint Nedelya" - in the Arapovski Monastery. "Saint Martyrs Kozma and Damian" - in the "St. Martyrs Kozma and Damian" Monastery. "St. Ilia" - in the "St. Ilia - Kozanovski" chapel. "St. Kirik" - in the "Saint Martyrs Kirik and Julita" Monastery. Top   Change USD    1.544280 CHF    1.271670 EUR    1.955830 Weather   Copyright © 2004-2005 Asenovgrad.info