Divotinski monastery "St Troitsa"

Divotinski monastery "St Troitsa" is located 7 km southwest of the town of Bankya and 10 km northeast of the village of Divotino at the foot of Lyulin mountain. It is 17 km north of the town of Pernik and 43 km west of the capital Sofia. 

History

The history of the foundation of the monastery is connected to a miracle that happened. According the legend St Troitsa appeared in the dream of a Christian family - a man and a woman from the village of Divotino. She took them to the place where there was hidden a treasure and there God told them "Tomorrow morning take shovels and dig the gold take it with the donkey and where it stops and stays to rest there you must set up a monastery in the name of St Troitsa". Early on the other morning the villagers went to the mentioned place to fulfill their duty to God. They dug large pottery jar full of golden coins. They loaded the donkey and went ahead. On a small meadow between two springs the donkeys lied on the ground. They understood that this was the will of the saint. They took the luggage and the man went to the village of Divotino to call for constructors who built the monastery. 

In 1046 when is the anniversary from the death of St Ivan Rilski started the construction of the monastery in Divotino. Up to this day the area where the gold was found is called Imaneto and the large jar from Byzantium times is preserved and is kept in the Historical museum in the town of Pernik.
During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom the monastery owned lots of properties. In XIV-th c. it was the center of the spiritual life and the education. During the Ottoman rule it was place for the Bulgarian culture and literacy. In the XVIII-th c. in the monastery there was religious school.
It was famous among the locals as Tsarski monastery for the visits of Tsar Ferdinand and during his rule.
From 1922 to 1973 it was monastery for nuns. In 1927-1928 is made two storey construction.

Architecture and condition

Divotinski monastery is active and working, in its present kind the church and the monastery buildings were built in 1902. The church has a nave, apse, two konhi and a dome, situated on a high drum. It is considered to keep the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary. Two other icons of the Holy Trinity and the other, according to legend saved Vasil Levski from the bullet. Today, Divotinski monastery is run by monks and works as a male fraternity.

transportation

The monastery is reached by three routes. The easiest and quickest is by bus № 44 to the square of Mihaylovo quarter in Bankya and then walking for 2 kilometers. Alternatively, drive after the villa zone of the neighborhood traveling along a dirt road. Another option is again driving on the road from the village Divotino, but this route is suitable only in dry weather.

accommodation

In the monastery there is no accommodation. If tourists wish they may stay in a hotel or guest house in Bankya.

Sources: http://www.bulgarianmonastery.com  http://cudo.blog.bg
Photos: http://www.snimka.bg/