Price: At the foot of Vratsa Mountain , 6 km from the city of Vratsa is the monastery "St. Hermit Ivan Rilski " . The monastery is known by several names . Due to the fact that it has over Bistrets neighborhood , often called Bistretski monastery. His other names - " St. John Kasinets " and " St. John Deserted " associated with cave Hermitage and area offices. The cave is located near the monastery and , according to legend , this is where he lived as a hermit most respected Bulgarian saint - Ivan Rilski .
According to legend , in the vicinity of the monastery Bistretskiya one time functioned Thracian sanctuary , and according to historical data - probably in place there was a monastery buildings. For them, however, do not have more information as they are destroyed by the advent of the Ottoman Turks in the Bulgarian lands . With the restoration of the monastery in 1540 got on Dimitar Dubov . Then follow two more destruction of the monastery .
During XVII-XIX century Bistretski monastery "St. Hermit Ivan Rilski " played an important role in the cultural development of the region. In the service of educating the local population functioned church school . On this holy place have worked prominent Bulgarian writers , including Joseph bearded and his disciple pop Todor of Vratsa . Joseph bearded is one of the most prominent writers of the XVII century , a representative of the so-called Group of damaskinarite and founder of the Rila damaskinarska school .
Important role in history has played Located in the monastery goldsmith workshop. Imemno it was made famous in 1611 carved cross. Another little known fact is that in 1822 in Bistretski monastery was founded first in Bulgaria stamp workshop. By doing so the monks stay in touch and they carried engravings by Russian monasteries. There is evidence that as early as 1629 bistretskite monks visited Russia.
Nowadays the monastery was renovated and is operational. The old monastery complex is best preserved "St. John the Evangelist ." It is a nave, apse building with a dome on a high cylindrical drum . In the church there are two layers of frescoes . On the west side of the entrance is located composition " Doomsday" , painted in 1867 at the time of the monk Yoasaf . Is preserved iconostasis , made in 1820 by Tryavna master Peter Minyov . The same artist is the author of some of the icons in the temple.
In Bistretskata monastery offers accommodation .
- Monastery
