Mitko On Trip - Adventures - Rozhen Monastery "Nativity of Mary" - returned more beautiful than ever like a phoenix after the ashes

Rozhen Monastery "Nativity of Mary" - returned more beautiful than ever like a phoenix after the ashes

01 Sep 2021
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The Rozhen Monastery "Nativity of Mary" is located on the southwestern slopes of the Pirin Mountains near the smallest town in Bulgaria - Melnik.

/ a little history /
It is not clear when and who created the monastery. This is due to the great fire in the 17th century, which damaged a large part of the monastery complex and burned the monastery library. The oldest objects found here are ornaments and coins from the time of Michael VIII Palaeologus (1250-85).
The monastery was restored at the beginning of the XVIII century with the financial help of rich bulgarians from all over the country. Reconstruction began in 1715, and the church was fully completed in 1732.

Our trip to the Rozhen Monastery happened somehow naturally. I have visited itmany times because my grandmother is from Sandanski and this is one of my favorite places to visit in the area. Together with Melnik and Rupite, this formed my top 3 in the area.

This time we traveled there with Vili, my sister and her husband and a few other friends. We arrived in the late saturday afternoon at the Rozhen Monastery and the atmosphere was quite pleasant and soothing. There were no large groups or many people and that allowed us to enjoy our time there.

Even in the parking lot, however, I was greeted by a surprise. Flying with a drone is forbidden .. Ehh...
(But if I fly it from the parking lot ... who will see me?
- No no! I will be wise and I will not do stupid things. )

We went inside and the girls had to put on clothes to keep the decency in the convent. Vili quickly transformed into a kung fu fighter. (or kung fu panda, but don't say you heard it from me)

Inside the monastery complex was quite beautiful with all the greenery around, the vine-heavy trees and well-maintained garden.

There are wooden benches in the whole yard of the monastery, where you can sit and enjoy the atmosphere. This is one of my favorite things to do. To sit, to breathe the air, to look around. Because there is much to watch and a lot of small details that you often miss in the hurry. (and there are a few cats I love to pet)

We stopped briefly at the church to look at the iconography, light a candle and pray for the health of our loved ones.
/ There are no pictures from inside and I hope you will learn from this action, but it was very beautiful. /

Then we walked around the yard and went up to the second floor, where the dining room was open. A massive wooden table with benches on either side occupied almost the entire room. At its end there was a wooden chair resembling a throne, which impressed me a lot. For a moment I went back to the times when 20-30 monks gathered and ate together at this table, rattling from time to time with their spoons and forks.

The view from the second-floor window was a thing not to be missed. It is no coincidence that the monastery was built on top of a hill. This view is simply breathtaking.

Our walk in and around the monastery lasted about an hour. We managed to recharge with positive energy, and on the way out we stopped at the stalls and bought souvenir magnets, homemade jams and creams.

Quick photo for the archive from one of the stall's most smiling saleswoman.

And here we are convinced that we will return again and again.