Lozen Monastery "St Spas"
Location
The Lozen monastery, St Spas, can be reached on foot from the eastern end of the Lozen village in the suburbs of Sofia. It takes 20-30 minutes to get there from the village by following the road to the highest peak in the Lozen mountain – Polovrak.
History
At first, the Lozen monastery was built in the 11-12th c. but was destroyed soon afterwards during the invasion of Ottoman troops to Bulgaria in the late 14th century. It was rebuilt in the 17th century by a monk who came from the Athos peninsula in Greece. The present-day church, St Spas, consists of 3 naves and was built in 1821 by Master Tsvyatko Todorov. In 1868, the church was painted with frescoes most of which have survived to date. The Samokov citizen Nikola Obrazopisov with his aides – Hristaki Zahgariev and Dimitar Dupnichanin - painted all the frescos. The biblical scenes that can be seen are many, but Kiril and Methodi, St Ivan of Rila, Patriarch Evtimii, and other men of letters and enlighteners are painted with exceptionally great devotion. Canonised Sofia citizens such as Nikola Novi of Sofia, Geori Novi of Sofia, Konstantin of Sofia can be also recognized among the images. At present (May 2006), the monastery undergoes a thorough repair, with the existing residential buildings being renovated, and a new residential part being built for guests. The monastery is a female one and is operational.
Accommodation
For the time being the monastery does not offer food and accommodation but once the ongoing repair works are completed, it will start hosting guests.
Transport
The monastery is reached down a bad dirt road where only a jeep-type of car can pass. The road to the monastery that starts from the eastern end of the village of Lozen offers a nice walk as it goes straight through the Lozen mountain. Counted from the parking space near the holiday house of the Bulgarian Red Cross, it takes no more than 20-30 minutes on foot to get to the monastery.
Photo Gallery
Ratings
History: 8.20
Architecture: 9.60
Location: 9.93
Overall Rating: 9.24
Our Presentation: 9.33
Total Votes: 15
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