Monasteries of Bulgaria

Monasteries of Bulgaria from the very beginning of their establishment represented something bolshee, than simply religious institutes. They were the education and writing nucleation sites for, temples of art and architecture monuments, storages of national traditions during an epoch osmanskogo yokes. Monasteries are a history of Bulgaria, original annals of the greatest tests which have fallen out on its share.

The First Christian monasteries in Bulgaria have been created in IX century of our era. It is possible to consider as a prologue of educational mission of monasteries 886 year, when prince Boris - has lodged in novopostroennom a monastery St. Pantelejmona (near to the city of Preslava) pupils great Cyril and the Methodius. So there was first starobolgarskaja the literary school which has become history under the name Plisko-Preslavsky. Not a smaller role other monastery St. Pantelejmona (in neighbourhoods of the city of Ohrida, nowadays it it is Republic Macedonia terrain) which by right is considered starobolgarskoj academy has played and based Klimentom Ohridsky. In monasteries Tyrnovsky and Kilifarevsky schools of painting - one of the largest medieval art schools of east Orthodoxy were generated. By the end of XVIII century in monasteries there were three new art schools - Trevnensky, Self-Kovsky and Bansky, which development directly linked with the Bulgarian Revival.

Almost in all large Bulgarian monasteries writers, historians, translators, calligraphers, teachers laboriously worked. Into a problem of monastic schools and schools entered not only preparation of ecclesiastics, but also a deep secular education.

The Greatest relic of the Bulgarian people is Rilsky a monastery based in X century by ascetic Ivan Rilskim. The monastery is had in 119 km to the south from Sofia. Its architectural ensemble stores lines of centuries-old history, however the modern shape has acquired a monastery only in the beginning of XIX century when on the means collected across all Bulgaria building of new monastic buildings has begun. The solution of the intrinsic front representing openwork system of porticoes which gives to all building the special warmth and a cosiness is In own way unique. The present museum is also the main monastic church (1834-1837) skilfully decorated from within with perfect frescos. The rich collection of gold and silver utensils, ancient coins is stored in a monastery, the weapon, ornaments, precious cloths. The monastery library is unique: in it it is stored more than 16 thousand volumes of books, including 134 manuscripts XV-XIX of centuries. In a museum the most interesting ethnographic meeting from the applied art products, which significant part - the gifts brought to a monastery from all ends of Bulgaria and from other countries is placed.

On scales, architectural, art and cultural significance to the Rilsky monastery it can be compared Only Bachkovsky the monastery which has been had in 29 km from Plovdiv. Based by Georgian Grigory Bakurianom in 1083, a monastery has the complex and discordant history embodied in architectural shape of the only thing of a monastery which has saved after destruction in XVI centuries of a building - churches-tombs: in him predominating agency of the Syrian and Armenian-Georgian architecture is felt. Exclusive worth is represented by frescos XI-XII of centuries, and also monumental church of assumption of the Birth-Giver of God of the All-holy Birth-Giver of God (1604).

Had in 7 the km from the city of Trojana Trojan a monastery is known mainly for that its wall lists represent one of the most interesting cycles in creativity of great Bulgarian painter Zaharija Zografa. The iconostas of main monastic church representing a masterpiece of art of woodcarving of the Bulgarian Revival is not less remarkable also.

Rozhensky the monastery which has been had in 6 the km from the cities of Melnik, also is well-known for frescos XVI-XVII of centuries on which it is represented more 150 biblical and gospel plots, carved wood iconostases and breastworks. In the Rozhensky monastery unique product Rozhensky kalligrafskoj the school existing here still in XIV century, - the hand-written list of Expounding of the Job, stored nowadays in church of Coffin gospodnja in Jerusalem has been created.

The Particular interest is represented by rocky monasteries - Ivanovo and Aladzha. Cut the Rusensky Breakage the Ivanovo monastery in XIV century a dwelling of outlet boxes-eremites, carrying agents eurysynusic during that epoch in Bulgaria of ideas isihazma, calling for silence, asceticism, moral perfection was high in a rock over the river. An invaluable monument of the Middle Ages is mural of one of caves of the Ivanovo monastery, including the earliest for the Bulgarian art a descriptive plot St. Gerasim's Life.

From other numerous Bulgarian monasteries are especially interesting Zemensky a monastery (it is had in 79 km to the southeast from Sofia), executed in the original architectural manner showing a complete withdrawal from byzantian style passed round in medieval Bulgaria; the Kilifarevsky monastery (it is based in XIV century in 12 km to the south from It is great-tyrnova), become history of the country as one of the academies, nurtured much outstanding Bulgarian educators; the Drjanovsky monastery of St. Archangel Michael (it is had in surprisingly picturesque valley in 4 km from the city of Drjanovo) and, certainly, a majestic temple-monument - the Shipchensky monastery (is nearby to Shipka pass in mounts of Stara Planina where in the summer 1877 year in cracked eggs with osmanli Turks to death there were Russian warriors and the Bulgarian civil guardsmen).