RII.A MONASTERY was founded in the l0th century by the Bulgarian monk St. John of Rila and was rebuilt in the l3th -l4th century. From that time are the fortress tower (1334), the bishop's throne, richly carved doors and some manuscripts, icon-paintings and church plates. In the l5th century, when Bulgaria fell to the Ottoman Turks, the monastery was abandoned for a short time but in the second half of the same century it was restored to a new life. Later it was for several times plundered and ravaged. Its thorough renovation began in the early l9th century. It was then that the residential wings and the church of the Holy Virgin were raised (1834-1837). The Rila Monastery has been listed as a world monument of culture. In it there is a well-appointed museum.

 

BACHKOVO MONASTERY was built in 1083 by Grigor| Bakuriani a military in the Byzantine Empire, a Georgian by origin. From that time is the ossify with its exquisite architecture and wall-paintings. The winter church of the Archangels dates in all likelihood to the l2th century. After 1344 tsar (king) Ivan Alexander (1331-1371) raised several new buildings. In the early l6th century the monastery was destroyed by the Turkish conquerors to be restored in the late l6th century. Of great interest are the monastery refectory (1601 ), the big domed kitchen the church of the Assumption (1604) with murals dating from 1643, the domed church of St Nicholas (1837) decorated in 1840 by the Revival Period painter Zahari Zograph.

 

THE ZOGRAPH MONASTERY OF "ST GEORGE" in Mount Athos is a Bulgarian monastery built in 919. On 10 October 1275 it was set on fire and 26 people were burnt alive in its fortress tower. Not a few Bulgarian rulers had repeatedly made donations to the monastery. For years on end there lived eminent personalities from the Bulgarian history. A great number of the monastery buildings date back to the l7th-l9th century but certainly there are older buildings, too. The main church was erected in 1801 and painted in 1817. The buildings of the monastery port are from the l5th- l9th century. The library treasures valuable l3th-l8th century manuscripts. The monastery has also preserved many works of the art of church painting, wood-carving and jewelry.

 

Legend has it that the foundation of the PREOBRAZHENIE MONASTERY dates back to the reign of tsar (king) Ivan Alexander (1331-1371). South of it there are remains from a medieval monastery. During the Ottoman rule the monastery was abandoned till 1825 when hieromonk Zossim (Zotik) settled there from the Rila Monastery and got down to work on its restoration. The main church built in 1834 by master Dimiter Sofialiyata was completed by Nikola Fichev and painted by Zahari Zograph in 1849-1851. The residential wings were raised in 1834-1857 and the guest-room, started in 1834, was completed by Nikola Fichev along with the winter church of the Annunciation.

 

TROYAN MONASTERY must have been in existence long before the l5th century, as legends suggest. It flourished again about the year 1600. From the oldest church it is only the throne stone that has been preserved. Towards the beginning of the l9th century the monastic brotherhood re-erected the monastery. In 1835 master Konstantin built a wonderful main church which was painted by Zahari Zograph in 1847-1849. The spacious residential wings with roomy verandas were built in 1835-1855. In 1865 a tower was raised in the monastery courtyard with a winter church and a belfry on the last floor.

 

DRYANOVO MONASTERY of St. Achangel Michael was founded in the l2th century and is in close proximity to the summer residence of the Bulgarian rulers from the Assen dynasty. It was for several times destroyed during the Ottoman domination. In its present-day site the monastery exists since 1845. The main church was built in 1861. Almost ruined after the Ottoman Turks' invasion, the monastery buildings were restored in 1880. Next to the church is the ossuary raised in memory of the perished insurgents. In the monastery there is a museum collection with exhibits from all historical epochs including neolithic finds from a nearby cave.

 

SOKOLOVO MONASTERY was founded in 1832-1833 by archbishop Yosiph of Sokolovo and hieromonk Agapi. In 1834 the main church was built with the financial aid of donors from the villages of Etura and Nova Mahala. The residential Nsrings were consecutively erected between 1836 and the late l9th century. Of greatest interest is the guest-room with the gateway dating from 1836. The ossuary and the adjacent plastic fence were raised in 1860. The monastery fountain with falcons chiselled out in the corners goes back to 1868. A fire burnt the western wing of the monastery but it was restored in 1981-1982.

 

STS KYRIK AND YULITA MONASTERY was in all likelihood built before the l4th century. The earliest architectural monument in it is the fountain dating from 1696. Repeatedly set on fire by the Ottoman Turks, the monastery was restored to its present-day appearance after 1835, The main church was built about f 845 by Yugovo masters and was painted by Alexi Atanassov from Negoush in 1847-1850. The iconostasis and the church furniture are impressive pieces of skillful fretwork. The monastery treasures wonderful icon-paintings by Zahari Zograph and other Revival Period painters as well as silver and copper church plates of high artistic value.