Vrachesh Monastery
The "Holy Forty" Vratchesh Monastery is an active monastery of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, part of the Lovech Diocese. It is located 5 km west of Vrachesh village and 10 km from Botevgrad.[1][2]
History
The monastery was founded in 13. century, after the Battle of Klokotnitsa, when Tsar Ivan Asen II defeated the Epirus despot Theodore Komnenos Doukas. The battle took place on the day of the Holy Forty, and the Tsar built up many churches and monasteries bearing their name.[1][2]
The monastery was initially a friary, with the monks transcribing and distributing liturgical books. In the 17. century, there was a functioning cellar school in the monastery. The monastery burned twice, in the 15. and 18. centuries, then sank into oblivion until 1890. In 1891, on the old foundations, Vuno Markov, considered to be the most famous master in the Botevgrad region, built a modest church, thus restoring the monastic life in the area. The monastery started off again as a friary, but later, in 1937, it began to allow nuns, with the first one being Cassiana. The monastery is currently active.[1][2]
Architecture
It is a complex of churches, residential and commercial buildings. The monastery church is a one-nave, one-bay, with an inner and open narthex over which a bell tower rises. In one of the residential buildings a chapel was later built, dedicated to St. Kliment Ohridski. Close to the monastery, on the right bank of the river, the holy spring of the monastery emerges. Above the monastery a steep hill rises, which hosts the remains of Gradiste fortress (Cheskovgrad).[1][2]
The monastery was declared a monument of culture.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e „Манастирите в България“, Panorama.bg, ИВИДИМ София, 2005 г. Template:Bg icon
- ^ a b c d e Врачешки манастир "Св. Четиридесет мъченици" Template:Bg icon
