The St. George the Bringer of Victory Monastery (Kremikovtsi Monastery) is situated on the southern slopes of the Balkan mountains, above the village of Kremikovtsi.
The monastery has a very long history. It was built during the Second Bulgarian Empire, probably ordered by Tsar Ivan Alexander, as it was previously destroyed by the Turks in 1382. It was rebuilt 111 years later, in 1493. The murals made at that time are closely related to the specifications of Bulgarian painting in the 13th and 14th centuries. That makes them particularly valuable. The murals depict various saints on a dark background. There are noticeable differences in the style of techniques used in the frescoes on the porch and in the church itself, which suggest that they were made by two separate teams of painters. This gives the church a unique look.
In the porches, visitors can spot paintings that tell a lot about the history of the monastery. They depict the dignitary Radivoy, his wife and their two children. He financed the construction of the church in memory of his children Todor and Dragana, who probably died during the Great Plague in 1492.
The murals have been restored for more than 30 years, to convey the power they had in the time they were created.
According to experts, the monastery is one of the largest medieval monuments representing the culture of the Balkans and of the main monasteries of Sofia. It was a great literary and cultural center. Among the works it holds, is the Kremikov Gospel of 1497, written at the request of Metropolitan Kalevit. There is a new church next to the old one, which was established in 1926. If you love paintings this is a place that you must visit. Nobody remains untouched by their beauty.
Monastery
Bulgaria
Macedonia
Romania
Sofia