The Ivanovo Rock Churches are a sort of network of 20 small rock monasteries and churches, the most impressive being the Church of the Virgin Mary. It is part of the large rock monastery “St. Michael the Archangel”, which is located 22 kilometers from Ruse. This church was developed under the protection of the Bulgarian Tsars and patriarchs during the 13th and 14th centuries. Thanks to its well preserved frescoes, considered to be the best example of Bulgarian medieval art, the monastery is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The Church of the Virgin Mary is just over 2 meters high and 16 meters, and was created and painted with the support of Tsar Ivan Alexander. It consists of two buildings and a chapel. You can find remains of monastic cells in the rocks around the neighborhood.
The frescoes on the walls and ceiling of the church were created by unknown artists. They depict scenes of the Holy Week and the life of St. John the Baptist. Portraits of Tsar Ivan Alexander, Queen Theodora, and various other Saints are displayed in the vestibule of the church, as well as scenes from the life of the Syrian hermits in the chapel.
The frescoes in the church are distinguished by their beauty, vitality and perfection. This is an example of the high level of culture achieved during the Second Bulgarian Empire.
UNESCO site
Monastery
Museum
Bulgaria
Macedonia
Romania
Ivanovo