Price: For a time, Gorna Banya monastery "St. St. Cyril and Methodius " was called " St. King . " The reason is that after the death of the Serbian King Stefan Uros II Milutin his remains were moved to the monastery. The event gave rise in the local population 's opinion that the ruler was donor and builder of the monastery . In the beginning of XIX century, Milutin relics were transferred to Metropolitan Cathedral "Holy Sunday" in Sofia.
Nowadays, access to Gornobanski monastery is easy . Cloister is acting as believers its doors are open weekends and major holidays. The only building remaining from the old monastery complex is the church. It is a one-nave building with two pentahedral conchas and no dome . The dome was destroyed in 1972 when a large fire and has since remained unrecovered . In the temple one can read the history of King Stefan Uros II Milutin , and behind the altar can be seen fragments of frescoes. The complex is preserved and secondary building.
It is important to mention that Gorna Banya monastery is part of the Sofia Mala Sveta Gora . Built in the XIII century , through the ages he was repeatedly plundered , burned and destroyed . A curious fact about one of his new restorations is that in 1863 a committee of gornobanchani sent a representative to Constantinople with the important task to gain permission for the restoration of the monastery. With the difficult mission was loaded Tsone Darnyuv . Against 10,000 pennies , eight month effort by the Russian ambassador , he received permission to restore the monastery under the name "St. Cyril and Methodius". Thus began the construction of two-storey monastery building with balconies and a stone church. In 1872 , however, the case was suspended after secret visit to the Apostle of freedom Vasil Levski in the monastery . The abbot of the monastery was exiled , and two of the organizers - Tsone Darnyuv and Atanas Papazaliyski , almost hanging on the gallows . The construction of the monastery was completed only in 1875 .
After the liberation Gorna Banya monastery "St. St. Cyril and Methodius " experienced good years . It is growing rich , and his property includes land and many cattle. After changes in political power in 1944, the monastery gradually crumbling and deserted .
For your information, the monastery does not offer food and accommodation. To it , however you can get from the Sofia, quarter of Gorna banya, while passing through the suburbs of Gorna Banya and take the left path.
- Monastery
