Transfiguration Monastery

Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

The Transfiguration Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery located in the Dervent gorge of the Yantra River. It lies near the village of Samovodene, seven kilometres north of Veliko Tarnovo. It is one of the five stauropegic monasteries of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

It is thought that the monastery was founded in the 11th century AD as a cloister of the Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos. In 1360, when Tarnovo was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and the traditions of hesychasm were popular in Bulgaria, it became an autonomous monastery on the order of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria. This is legendarily tied to the charity of Ivan Alexander's second wife Sarah-Theodora and their son Ivan Shishman, a reason to also call the monastery Sarah's or Shishman's monastery.

After the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria, the monastery was plundered and burned several times by the Turks and eventually entirely destroyed. It was only reestablished in 1825 by father Zoticus of the Rila Monastery by means of donations. In 1832, a firman of the Ottoman sultan allowed the construction of a new monastery church; the church was designed by the noted Bulgarian National Revival architect Kolyu Ficheto and completed in 1834. The cross-shaped church features three apses, a single dome and a covered narthex. The icons and frescoes of the main church were painted by another famous artist, Zahari Zograf, who worked in the monastery between 1849 and 1851, after he finished his decoration of the Troyan Monastery. Among the more notable murals are those of the Last Judgment, the Wheel of Life, the Birth of the Mother of God, the Last Supper. Zograf also painted Saints Cyril and Methodius, as well as a self-portrait. In addition, the main church was richly decorated on the outside and a wood-carved and gold-plated iconostasis was installed.

Between 1858 and 1863 Kolyu Ficheto constructed the seven-bell belfry, the residential buildings and the main entrance, as well as the underground chapel of Saint Andrew the First-called and the small Church of the Annunciation on top of it, with icons by Zahari Zograf's nephew Stanislav Dospevski.

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Details

Founded: 11th century
Category: Religious sites in Bulgaria

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

loka kola (8 months ago)
Beautiful forest but very dirty monastery. I guess very very lazy people live in it. It was sad. And very expensive price for one candle. It used to be 10 stotinki, now its 10 times the price.
Pete O (9 months ago)
Small but stunning monastery with exceptional artwork throughout, and very quiet (during the week). Very cheap, I don’t know why this isn’t more popular… Must see if you’re into this kind of thing
Robert Smith (10 months ago)
Worth a short visit. Beautiful setting and fabulous views. It has a rundown feel about it, but the general atmosphere gives you a picture of the past hardships they endured.
fidelcup (11 months ago)
Beautiful monastery and landscape views. The church is free to visit for Bulgarians and 4 leva for foreigners. It's a very peaceful place ?
Eu Vio (11 months ago)
The Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of God, also known as the "Preobrazhenski Monastery," is a Bulgarian Orthodox monastery located in the Rhodope Mountains near the village of Velingrad. It is renowned for its beautiful setting amidst nature and its spiritual significance. The monastery is dedicated to the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ and houses a church, living quarters for monks, and other religious buildings. Visitors can explore the monastery complex, admire its architecture, and experience its serene atmosphere. The Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of God is a place of pilgrimage and reflection for both locals and tourists in Bulgaria.
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