Dragalevtsi Monastery

Dragalevtsi Monastery of the Holy Mother of God of Vitosha is a Bulgarian Orthodox monastery located on the lower slopes of Vitosha mountain on the outskirts of Sofia, Bulgaria. The monastery, founded in the mid-14th century by Bulgarian monarch Ivan Alexander, was abandoned following the Ottoman conquest of Sofia and reconstructed in the late 15th century, when it became an important literary center. This is when the monastery church and part of its paintings were built.

The monastery church, known as the Church of the Holy Mother of God, is 12 by 5 metres (39 feet 16 foot) in size. It has just one apse and one nave. Its architecture is similar to that of other modern churches in the Sofia area, such as the Church of St Petka of the Saddlers and the Kremikovtsi Monastery.

On the interior of the monastery church, mural portraits of Radoslav Mavar and his immediate family as church benefactors (ktetors) were created. Other 15th-century frescoes, as well as 16th- and 17th-century paintings, exist in addition to these. The murals on the higher tiers of the west facade depict the warrior saints Demetrius of Thessaloniki, George, and Mercurius, and date from 1475–1476. The saints are dressed in period-appropriate full knight’s armour, with Demetrius and Mercurius sporting spurs. One of the paintings shows Demetrius fighting Bulgarian king Kaloyan (r. 1197–1207), who is shown as an adversary of the religion. The church’s iconostasis was carved and placed in the 18th century. Nikola Obrazopisov, a painter from the Samokov Art School in the nineteenth century, created the icons in the chapel.

Aside from its valuable paintings from three distinct eras, the monastery is also known for housing a so-called cell school under Ottoman authority and publishing the Dragalevtsi Testament. Furthermore, since its participation in the covert revolutionary activities against the Turks in the mid-nineteenth century, the Dragalevtsi monastery has been one of the active nuclei of Bulgarian liberation battles. The monastery’s abbot, Genadii, was a personal friend and collaborator of national hero Vassil Levski, and actively assisted him in the organization of revolutionary committees in the Sofia region.

Architecture of Dragalevtsi Monastery

The Dragalevski Convent is made up of a chapel, residential structures, and agricultural buildings. The church, a kind of basilica dating from the 15th century, is the only one that has survived from the previous monastery complex.

It is lavishly ornamented with frescoes on two levels. Only parts of numerous Biblical scenes have survived from the original narthex wall-painting.

The massive composition “Doomsday” takes up the whole vault arches, as well as the eastern, northern, and southern walls of the narthex. Soon after, the west faade of the ancient church was embellished with pictures of the Virgin Mary and three of the most popular saints-horsemen-St. George, St. Dimitar, and St. Merkurii.

The murals on the outer north wall of the Dragalevska church, which include portraits of renowned monks such as St.Ivan Rilski and St.Petka Turnovska, were painted in the 17th century. They are now incorporated into the interior of the second monastery’s church, which is next to the previous one. The church’s iconostasis was repaired towards the end of the 18th century, and its carved embellishments were gold-plated. The church still has icons from the nineteenth century.

History of Dragalevtsi Monastery

Dragalevtsi Monastery, located 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) south of Sofia’s Dragalevtsi neighborhood, was founded in 1345 by Tsar Ivan Alexander (r. 1331–1371) during the Second Bulgarian Empire. Tsar Ivan Shishman (r. 1371–1395) initially referenced the monastery in the Vitosha Charter, which was published before 1382. The charter awarded the Dragalevtsi Monastery properties and tax exemptions, including ownership of the settlement of Novachene.

The monastery was abolished and its structures were destroyed when Sofia fell to the Ottomans in 1382. It was constructed in the second half of the 15th century with financial assistance from local feudal lord Radoslav Mavar and quickly became a storehouse of Bulgarian cultural history. The monk Job Kasinets from Timișoara produced the Boyana Beadroll, a catalogue of medieval Bulgarian kings, while residing at Dragalevtsi Monastery in 1612. The text demonstrates how medieval monarchs were remembered in 17th-century Bulgarian regions. Other manuscripts written in the monastery’s scriptorium during this time period include Priest Nicholas’ Gospel from 1469, the Dragalevtsi Gospel from 1534, and a psalter from 1598.

Only the monastery church remains now from what was once a much larger complex of structures in the 15th century. In 1818 and 1932, the church was enlarged. Dragalevtsi Monastery was often visited by national hero Vasil Levski in the late nineteenth century, who utilized it as a base for his revolutionary efforts. Nuns presently live at the convent.

Location of Dragalevtsi Monastery

The Dragalevtsi monastery is situated adjacent to Dragalevtsi, a Sofia neighborhood at the foot of the Vitosha mountain.

The monastery may be reached by automobile in approximately 20-30 minutes from downtown Sofia, over a remarkably nice asphalt route that begins near Dragalevtsi. Unfortunately, there are no signs directing visitors to the monastery, so it is best to ask locals from the hamlet of Dragalevtsi for directions — it is difficult to find someone who cannot show you the way! Alternatively, one may take the city bus to Dragalevtsi and then walk down the mountain routes for approximately half an hour from the settlement.