Rozhen Monastery

The Rozhen Monastery (Bulgarian: Роженски манастир) is the biggest monastery in the Pirin Mountains in southwestern Bulgaria. It is one of the few medieval Bulgarian monasteries well preserved until today. According to sources from Mount Athos, it was built in 890. A couple of new buildings were constructed in the monastery at the time of Despot Slav. It was devastated by fire in the 17th century, but restored during the next century with the financial help of rich Bulgarians from the whole country. The reconstruction began in 1715 and was fully finished in 1732.

The monastery reached its apogee in the 19th century, when it was a regional centre of Orthodox Christianity and owned a lot of land in the area.

Famous Bulgarian revolutionary Yane Sandanski's grave is located near the monastery.

Honour

Rozhen Peninsula on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Rozhen site in relation with the Rozhen Monastery.

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.pbase.com/ngruev/rojen Photos from Rozhen Monastery]
* [http://www.balex.bg/images/fotoalbum/Monasteries/Rozhen%20Monastery/ Images from Rozhen Monastery]