The adoption of Christianity in Bulgaria in IX c. was of great significance for the establishment of the Bulgarian Kingdom – on one hand as a spiritual and cultural community within its own boundaries and on other hand as one of the most important pretender for authority, glory and might in Europe. The monasteries were one of the means for the achievement of this gain. The philosophers, the poets and the philologists, who worked behind the walls of the monasteries, were entrusted with the missions not only to develop the necessary forms for a religion, but to create a whole culture. It will be absolutely right to say that the monasteries were and still are centers of literacy and enlightenment, and temples of art and architecture, but that still does not say everything. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the history of the Bulgarian monasteries is a political history in full. From their fight for the laying of the Slavic literacy and culture, through their role as a bastion against the Byzantine conquerors (XI – XII c.) it is a history full of hard historic trials, that Bulgarians must have overcome.
The history of the monasteries, their character and their place in the consciousness of the Bulgarians are in close connection with the historical fate of the country. At present there are 120 preserved monasteries, which are a living chronic of the Bulgarian culture and creative spirit. They contain marvelous architectural ensembles, old icons, unique masterly wood-carvings and wall-paintings. The miraculous icons, the artistically built altar walls and the traditional living create the unique atmosphere in these amazing monuments of architecture.
RILA MONASTERY
The monastery was founded in X c. by Ivan from Rila, who later on developed it to a center of the early medieval culture. Good care was taken of the monastery during the establishment of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. In the end of XIV c. the Rila monastery was a mighty feudal lord with lots of villages, lands and other estates. In the middle of the XV c. the monastery was ravaged. A new upsurge began when Ivan Rilski’s relics had been moved from Veliko Tarnovo (1469) to the monastery escorted by a public procession of people from all over Bulgaria. Several times the monastery had to endure severe fires and robberies. The construction of the today's monastery building began in 1816 thanks to charities from the whole Bulgarian population. It has continued for about thirty years. The facade of the yard is a paragon.
In the north wing is situated the monastery kitchen – a unique work of skills and architecture. The main church “Sveta Bogoroditsa” (Mother of God) is built as a combination of the old three-nave Basilica with the cross-shaped church dome (typical architectural style in Athos Mountains) and the Italian domed church. Really impressing is its internal design. The wall-paintings created between 1840 and 1848 are masterpiece work of some of the best masters of that time. Thirty-six figures (kings, apostles and martyrs of the Old Testament, superb rich ornaments with flowers, birds and stylized figures) are the objects depicted on the central wood-carved wall in the God Mother church. This masterpiece has been created for five long years by four superbly talented masters. The monastery library has 16 000 volumes with 134 manuscripts from XV – XIX c. and possesses many incunabular books and documents. The Rila monastery is the largest temple of the Bulgarian spirit and culture.
BACHKOVO MONASTERY
The monastery in Bachkovo takes second place after Rila monastery not only by size but by its importance to the architecture, the art and the spiritual living of the country. Its history is complex and contradictory. It was founded in 1083 by the Georgian Grigori Bakuriani. The landowning had expanded so much that its lands stretched partly even to Thessaloniki. The history of the monastery is reflected also in the architecture of the cemetery church. Its entire conception differs from the Old Bulgarian art and has obvious resemblances with the Syrian, Armenian and Georgian architectures. The building of walls with stone and brick layers is a very common architectural style for the Old Bulgarian capitals Pliska and Preslav, but not typical for the Bachkovo monastery architecture. The two-floor building keeps precious wall-paintings – evidences from an epoch with too few preserved architectural monuments. The wall-paintings from XI and XII centuries belong to a very aristocratic art style. In the beginning of the XVII c. were built the large bone-vault (1601) and the main church “Uspenie Bogorodichno” (The Assumption of Virgin Mary - 1604). The wall-painting in the bone-vault are a very interesting evidence for the high cultural level of the monastery community. They depict standing figures of ancient philosophers (Aristotle, Aristophanes, Diogenes, Sophocles, Anaximenes) and of David as well. Thanks to the well-preserved wall-paintings, the old icons from different epochs, the old books with artistic casing and the numerous church equipments, Bachkovo monastery is one of the richest galleries of the Old Bulgarian art.
TROYAN MONASTERY
A chronic indicates that the monastery was founded in 1600, though at present only its stone altar is completely preserved. Therefore the Troyan monastery belongs entirely to the Renaissance period. In the middle of the XVIII c. famous scholars worked there and a school was founded. Fortunately most of the important works of the Old art and from the Renaissance have been preserved. A real masterpiece is the wood-carving on the altar wall (created in 1839) in the main church. Even more remarkable with their originality are the significant wood-carvings (1794) on the altar doors in St. Nicola’s chapel. From the numerous manuscripts and incunabula the sermon collection of the so called Troyan Damaskin (XVII c.) is of very significant value. The people from the famous monastery workshop were making graphic paper of high quality as well as many geographical maps.
BOYANA CHURCH
The Boyana Church is a medieval Bulgarian-orthodox church. It is situated in Sofia, at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. The architectural complex includes three buildings from X, XIII and XIX centuries. The church owes its worldwide renown to its frescos (1259). They are laid as a second layer over pictures with even older origin and represent some of the best and most complex examples of the medieval East-European art. In the 89 wall scenes images of 240 men figures can be found. The artist is unknown. Probably he belonged to the School of Arts in Veliko Tarnovo. With his pictures the Renaissance there began 200 years earlier than assumed. Hence the famous Italian artists from the XV c. were preceded by a nameless master. 18 scenes depict St. Nicola’s life. Others show everyday scenes of that time. The pictures of Kaloyan (patron of the church) and his wife Dessislava, and that of the Bulgarian tsar Constantine Tih Assen and his wife Irina are considered as the most interesting images in the church.
In 1979 the Boyana church was included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
THE CATHEDRAL “ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKI“
It is the main Patriarchal church of the Bulgarian Orthodoxy.
It was built in 1912 after the design of the Russian architect Pomerantsev. The building is constructed on an area of 3170 square meters. The altar and the Patriarchal throne are made of multi-colored Italian marble. The wood-carvings, the plastics, the ornaments and the wall-paintings were created by three Bulgarian and 32 Russian artists. The bell tower is 50.52 m high and the domes are gilded. The cross at the top is made of solid gold. The crypt of the cathedral keeps a magnificent collection of masterpieces of the Bulgarian iconography. Apart from the 200 icons some frescos can be observed.
On such kind of tour the interested visitors can learn much about the turbulent history of this part of Europe.
Our team is at your disposal to organize the perfect tour for you.
Yours,
Ulpia Tours Team
Gallery
