Historic Landmark
Lopushanski Monastery

Lopushanski Monastery "St. John the Baptist" is located about 1 km from the village of George Damyanovo in northwestern Bulgaria. It is believed that the monastery existed in the tenth century but was located near the village Pomezhdin in place Manastirishte. The monastery was burned to the ground in 1678 and the fire destroyed all the written evidence of its existence before.

Villagers of Lopush donated land to build a new monastery and this gesture because to this day the monastery was known as Lopushanski. Construction of the new building began in 1850 with the restoration of the monastery is occupied Archimandrite Dionysius, who even bought by the Ottoman government the right to build a temple, more than a mosque. The church of the monastery was built for six years. The idea was to build a temple similar to the Rila Monastery. An interesting fact is that the builder made a model of the monastery, using twigs from a basket. All icons in the church and two small chapel within the monastery were painted by the artist Stanislav Nikola Dospevski - nephews of the Renaissance artist and painter Zahari Zograf. Today it is the third largest church in Bulgaria.

The monastery keeps miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary - worshipers say leaning over her, to see how the gutter flowing with oil. Another great value is the icon of Jesus Christ, whose gaze follows visitors wherever they are in church. In the courtyard can be seen and built in 1856. white stone fountain with three spouts.

This is one of the favorite places of Ivan Vazov, who wrote one of the chapters of "Under the Yoke" here.

Monastery "St. John the Baptist "is now active monastery, it also offers accommodation. There are no entrance fees to visit the monastery.

• Monastery