Bulgaria Inside

Tourist guides have little to say about Chourilovski Monastery St. Georgi. You can only learn that the sanctuary is situated 200 km away from Sofia, 25 km away from Petrich and 2.5 km away from the village of Chourilovo.

Once you leave Petrich, on your way look for a sign towards the village of Gega. You might meet border police since the monastery is situated close to the border between Bulgaria and Macedonia.

Before reaching Gega, you will pass through Portata (the gate). This is a natural phenomenon formed of rocks on the two sides of the road. In Gega, look for the unpaved road that will take you to the monastery.

Approaching the sanctuary, you will notice a big stone wall. In the yard of the monastery you will be able to hear only the songs of the birds and the lack of any human presence.

The highest part of the hill hosts the monastery’s bell tower constructed in 1857. A beautiful meadow surrounds it. The old monastery fountain is also situated there.

Climbing the bell tower, you will be able to observe Belasitsa Mountain and the villages of Chourilovo, Baskaltsi and Volmo. Their residents often visit the masses held in the monastery.

During the revival period children from the village of Igoumenets used to attend the school of the monastery.

The monastery sexton Georgi will be glad to show you around. He will take you to the old school and the female division of the monastery. Georgi will also show the old wall paintings. These present the earthly world that is entirely under the control of evil forces. The heavenly world is situated above it.

According to Georgi, the monastery was constructed in 1857 over the remains of an old sanctuary. Six Greek craftsmen worked on it. Locals also took part in the process.

Historians say that the monastery was initially created in the 14th century. Wall paintings were made in 1858. As many other Bulgarian sanctuaries, St. Georgi took part in the national liberation struggles.

No monks live in the monastery complex since 1968. Today, the monastery has been named a monument of culture.

St. Georgi’s monastery holiday is on May 6. Roasted lamb meat is prepared in the sanctuary’s yard and given to all of the people attending the festive mass.