Bulgaria Inside

Rozhen monastery is the biggest sanctuary in the Pirin region and the second biggest in the country after the Rila monastery. It is one of the few middle age monasteries that have been preserved till present days.

The monastery is situated in the lower part of Pirin Mountain, one km southwest of the village of Rozhen and 2.5 km away from the town of Melnik.

According to historic accounts, the monastery was created in 890. St. Rozhdestvo Bogoridchno church later on gave its name to the village of Rozhen.

During the reign of tsar Kaloyan, the monastery was expanded. In the 17th century it burned down and in the 18th century was renovated using funds provided by the Bulgarians in the region. Reconstruction began in 1715 and ended in 1732. Most of the wall paintings were created during that time. Paintings from 1597, 1611, 1715 and 1732 were preserved as well.

Rozhen monastery saw its peak in the 19th century, when it turned into regional spiritual center. During the Ottoman reign over Bulgaria, the monastery fell under Greek governance. It got back its Bulgarian status in 1921.

The complex consists of a church, a chapel, outhouses and living premises. The yard has irregular hexagonal shape. Living premises and outhouses form the yard and the church is positioned inside it.

A two-storey chapel is situated near the monastery. It was constructed in 1597 and its wall paintings date back to 1662. St. Cyril and Methodius church was constructed nearby in 1914. It was used by Bulgarians during the Greek period of the monastery.

Rozhen monastery is seen as one of the middle age masterpieces in Bulgaria. It is well known for the wood paintings and beautiful iconostases.

As many other monasteries, this one has its miracle-making icon. According to a legend, the icon got a miraculous steel cover and became the ownership of a Greek widow. The widow got rid of the icon during the reign of an emperor, who chased believers. She threw the icon into flowing waters. It never went down.

The monastery offers wonderful view of Pirin’s peaks. You can also see the so-called Melnik sand pyramids.

Rozhen monastery was named monument of culture. It was also the sight, where the Bulgarian movie Vreme Razdelno was filmed.

Today, the monastery is open for visitors year-round. A motel and a restaurant function nearby. Since the monastery is situated only few km away from the popular town of Melnik, it has already turned into a well-known tourism destination.

September 8 is the monastery’s celebration day. People from each part of the country go there to participate in the festivities.