Seven Altars Monastery:
Bulgaria
| Copyright 2007 |
The Seven Altars Monastery is the name given to the Monastery of the Most Holy Mother of
God and is found in the Balkan Mountains between the oblast of Sofia Obstina and Vratsa.
Situated nearly one thousand five hundred metres up at the bottom of the Izdremets peak, the
Seven Altars Monastery is one of many Bulgarian Orthodox Monasteries to be found high up in
a mountain range.
God and is found in the Balkan Mountains between the oblast of Sofia Obstina and Vratsa.
Situated nearly one thousand five hundred metres up at the bottom of the Izdremets peak, the
Seven Altars Monastery is one of many Bulgarian Orthodox Monasteries to be found high up in
a mountain range.
Although a lot of the Seven Altars Monastery has been built in modern history the monastery is
over a thousand years old. The actual date the Seven Altars Monastery was founded is unsure
but there is a legend that says Tsar Peter Delyan (Tsar Peter the second), who reigned over
Bulgaria for only one year, died in the monastery in 1041 which would put the date the
monastery was built to at least the eleventh century.
Although the name of the monastery is officially the Monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God,
it is called the Seven Altars Monastery due to its unique church that has seven altars (chapels).
These seven altars are said to be made for seven Boyars (aristocrats of the highest order) who
built seven villages close by. The villages are Osenovlag, Bukovets, Ogoya, Ogradishte,
Zhelen, Lakatnik and Leskovdol.
over a thousand years old. The actual date the Seven Altars Monastery was founded is unsure
but there is a legend that says Tsar Peter Delyan (Tsar Peter the second), who reigned over
Bulgaria for only one year, died in the monastery in 1041 which would put the date the
monastery was built to at least the eleventh century.
Although the name of the monastery is officially the Monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God,
it is called the Seven Altars Monastery due to its unique church that has seven altars (chapels).
These seven altars are said to be made for seven Boyars (aristocrats of the highest order) who
built seven villages close by. The villages are Osenovlag, Bukovets, Ogoya, Ogradishte,
Zhelen, Lakatnik and Leskovdol.
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On one side of the Seven Altars Monastery are the remains of an old fortress that was built on
the slopes of the mountain to protect the area from invading forces, probably during the ancient
times of the Romans. The local Bulgarian civilians call this fortress the "Latin stronghold".
Although the monastery is difficult to get to by transport, there is a bus that travels from a train
station in the small town of Eliseyna twelve kilometres away and you can travel there by car but
the road is narrow and difficult to navigate.
the slopes of the mountain to protect the area from invading forces, probably during the ancient
times of the Romans. The local Bulgarian civilians call this fortress the "Latin stronghold".
Although the monastery is difficult to get to by transport, there is a bus that travels from a train
station in the small town of Eliseyna twelve kilometres away and you can travel there by car but
the road is narrow and difficult to navigate.
