Nunnery "Pokrov Bogorodichen"

Nunnery "Pokrov Bogorodichen" is situated in the town of Samokov that is located 61 km southeast of the capital Sofia. 

History

In XVIII in the town of Samokov there are were a couple of convents of the Sveta gora monasteries - Zografski, Hilendarski and Iverski, also of the Rila monastery and of some of the monasteries in Jerusalim.

One of those convents was that of the Hilendarski monastery that became the nunnery convent in Samokov. According to the legend the town was guarded by Virgin Marry that covered with her veil the city and thus saved it from destruction. That is why Virgin Mary is its patron and its holiday is on the 1-st of October.

At first the Nunnery was girls monastic dormitory. Famous Bulgarian woman Baba Fota came to the town of Samokov after she donated all her properties to the Rila monastery and accepted judicial part in Russia. After her arrival she gathered the small nunnery community and for many years until  her death in 1844.

Since its foundation the Nunnery became center of education and spiritual rituals. Icons for the church were painted by Dimitar Zograf and in the nartex can be seen fresco with Virgin Mary that according to the specialists is painted by Zahari Zograf. In the mid XIX there lived about 100 nuns.

After the Liberty the Samokov monastery continues to make clothes to provide and nuns took part in different international fairs in Liège (1905), London (1907) and in the first Plovdiv fair in 1892. The diplomas from this fairs can still be seen today in the monastery kitchen.

The Samovksi monastery is part of the list of the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria.

In the temple are made weeding and baptisms. The nuns also maintain kitchen for poor people. Their hospitality is eponymous and attracts many Christians and tourists. The local people call them with love "Babite" or grandmas.

Architecture

In 1837-1839 was constructed solid stone church and were also made other improvements. It is large three nave church with semi basilica that is separated of two rows columns and are connected with arches.