The Zemen Monastery “St. John the Evangelist” is located 2 kilometers from the town of Zemen, and 70 kilometers southwest of Sofia. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Bulgaria, built during the First Bulgarian Empire (681-1018), and dating from the 11th-13th centuries. It shared the same fate of many other Bulgarian monasteries during the Ottoman era. After centuries of decay, it was eventually rebuilt in the 19th century.
The main attraction is the monastery church, which houses frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries. Its beauty is often compared to that of the Boyana Church. Due to its significance, the monastery is not active but functions as a museum. Many legends enhance the charm of this place. Some say that it was a sacred place of the Cathars, who kept the sign of the Bulgarians, a symbol that can unite all world religions. One of the cardinals of the Vatican predicted that Zemen will save the world.
According to another legend, the Crusaders, who entered the church and cracked the murals believed that this would enable them to find the Temple of Solomon.