Bachkovo Monastery

Along with the Rila Monastery, Bachkovo monastery is one of the most important temple complexes in the territory of Bulgaria. Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest immediately after the Rila Monastery, while this is one of the oldest in the Balkans. It has stood the test of a Byzantine, starogruzinska and Bulgarian culture and nationality.Bachkovo monastery named "Assumption" is situated near the picturesque Bachkovo. It is located in the valley of Chepelare river (River Chaya), about 10 kilometers south from Asenovgrad. Around beautiful scenery consists of beautiful hills of the Rhodope Mountains.



 Bachkovo monastery is situated in a popular tourist area of the country gathered in the territory pretty historical monuments and nature reserves. For this reason Bachkovo monastery enjoys many visitors throughout the year, for their convenience monastery was built a special path around the monastery. On it are pretty restaurants, shops and souvenir stalls with all kinds of goods such as rare herbs, homemade jams of wild fruit, sheep or buffalo yoghurt and cheese, woolen blankets and dr.Bachkovskiyat monastery is one of the 100 National Tourist Sites of Bulgarian Tourist Union.
Bachkovo Monastery was founded in 1083 by Georgian Gregory Bakuriani (Pakurian), which was a great domestik Western troops of Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus.Originally Bachkovo monastery developed as a center of Georgian monasticism. At the end of 11 century it formed literary school known as Petritsonska sources. This name comes from the original name of the neighboring stronghold of Petrich.
By translation of scholars working in the monastery, which includes the famous pupil of John Italy - Georgian philosopher John neoplatonik Petritsi (1050 - 1130 years) carried out the links on medieval Byzantine Georgia. Today vBachkovskiyat monastery can still see the icon, donated in 1311 by Athanasius and Okropir Georgians. It is believed that after the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman rule in the late 14 th century Evtimii sent into exile Bachkovo. Here the patriarch with his students began active religious and cultural activities. Evtimiy died around 1404


 After being robbed and neglected after the Turkish invasion, Bachkovo monastery was again revived in the 16th century.The dining room was reconstructed in 1601 and the cathedral church of the Assumption was finally completed in 1604 in the monastery dining naBachkovskiya can see incredibly beautiful murals, painted by unknown artists somewhere around 1605 Their artistic value corresponds with the other murals throughout entire monastery. Especially beautiful are the paintings in the church. Most remarkable in this temple in Bachkovo however the icon of the Virgin tenderness, dating from 1310, which is believed to be miraculous.
In Bachkovo among the main religious temple has two smaller church - St. Archangels, built sometime in 13-14 c. It is situated at the northern gates to the main church. Another temple is Bachkovo St. Nicholas, built in the period 1834-1837, the Church of St. Nicholas, which rises in the southern part of the yard, impresses with its preserved frescos from 1841 They are the work of famous artist Zahari Zograf you paint your own face among the paintings. At Bachkovo has an interesting museum, which can be seen ritual objects and specimens of goldsmiths' art from different periods.