Bachkovo Monastery

The Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest one in Bulgaria; it’s
situated in the Rhodope Mountains, among the Chepelarska River valley.
Surrounded by high rocky peaks, the monastery is located 1km from Bachkovo, 10 km from Assenovgrad, 28 km from Plovdiv.

In the 11th century, Gregory Bakuriani, a Byzantine commander chose
this wonderful place in the Rhodopes to spend his retirement. In
1083yrs, together with his brother called Abazii, they founded St.
Bogoroditsa of Petrich Monastery.

The monastery has numerous real estates - from the Rhodopes to the
Thracian plane. Tsar Kaloyan conquered the Rhodope Mountains, and the
monastery was included into Bulgarian territory. Under Tzar Ivan
Alexander, the monastery became an important institution. The Bulgarian
patriarch Evtimii Tarnovski was exiled in the monastery after falling
under Turkish yoke. Here he developed his literary work.

The monastery was burnt down several times and only the ossuary
and the St. Archangel Church have been preserved in their original
appearance. Wall paintings, dating 11 - 14 century, are among the most
treasured in the history of Christianity in Eastern Europe.

Paintings of one of the famous Bulgarian artists - Zahari
Zograf, have been preserved in the St. Troitsa and St. Nikola Church.
Among the most interesting are the portraits of church- donors , such
as the portrait of Tzar Ivan Aleksander. The most famous miraculous
icon of Bororoditsa Eleusa with a silver repousse cover, dating 1310,
has been also kept there.
There is a collection of plates, icons, books, the sword of the
crusader named Fridrih Babarosa, etc.

The monastery has bed accommodation capacity of about 200 people.

Source: visit.bg