Monastery of Etropole

Etropole monastery is situated at the foot of Stara Planina Black peak- at 1070 m altitude, 2 km away from the village of Ribaritsa, 5 km away from the town of Etropole and 40 km from the town of Teteven.

History

Etropole monastery was founded in the Middle Ages. The legends connect the emergence of the monastery with the name of St. Ivan Rilski, who settled in one of the caves in the nearby area Varovitets, before retiring as a hermit in Rila.

In the 16 and 17 century Etropole Monastery was one of the most significant literary and cultural centers in the Bulgarian lands, where Etropolska famous calligraphic and artistic literary school arises and develops .

Many copyists, compilers of church collections have been here, artists who rolled wide activities to preserve the Bulgarian writing and literature. Here famous names are the names of Raphael monk, grammarian Boycho, Drago deacon, Deacon Yoan, Doyo teacher, priest Daniel and others. In the monastery are written dozens of manuscripts decorated with painted titles, pages, letters, ornate vignettes and others. These are the "Gospel" of 1577, "Prologue for the months' of 1602, several gospels of 17century and others.

During the renovation of the monastery in 1858 Abbot Hrisant found in the ruins of old church plate with an inscription indicating the year of the founding of the monastery - 1158, which was embedded in the slab foundation of the newly built monastery church.

During the renovation of the monastery in 1858 Abbot Hrisant found in the ruins of old church plate with an inscription indicating the year of the founding of the monastery - in 1158, which was embedded in the slab foundation of the newly built monastery church.

Vasil Levski has repeatedly visited the monastery. There is a shelter made from Hrisant the Apostle.
According to stories of old Etropolians hiding place was excavated by Valko Tzolov Topalski, associate of Levski  member of a secret revolutionary committee - Praveshkiya, a participant in the robbery of the Treasury in the passage orhaniyskata Arabakonak in autumn 1872 and diarbekirski exile.

Accommodation

Etropole monastery offers excellent conditions for recreation. It has rooms with sanitary unit and rooms with bed and sink. Food is available for larger groups of tourists. There is family hotel and guest houses that offer excellent conditions for recreation in the village of Ribaritsa.

Transport


Travelling via Pravets and Etropole is a convenient way to get to the monastery of Etropole. By car or bus the  easiest way to the monastery is via the Hemus highway to the town of Etropole. Shortly after the town is the turnoff for the monastery - 2.5 km a relatively new asphalt road.

Source: www.bg.wikipedia.org ; www.bulgarianmonastery.com
Photos: www.bg.wikipedia.org