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Popular NameLopushanski Monastery
Orthodox NameSt. John the Precursor
RegionMontana
Location
Lopushanski Monastery - location mapThe Lopushanski monastery is situated at 300m above sea level in the Chiprovtsi part of the Balkan mountain. It is impressive for its architecture, proportions and stone plastics, while the visit is long remembered for the wonderful mountainous nature in the neighbourhood.


History and general info
Once upon a time, the place of the present-day monastery was occupied by another cloister, built during the second Bulgarian state and ruined completely at the time of the Ottoman invasion in the second half of the 14th century. According to a legend, the monastery’s watermill run with waters of the Ogosta river often hosted ‘hajduti’ (i.e. Bulgarian rebels during the Ottoman rule). Once, a father and a daughter set off from the nearby village on their way to the monastery. Yet a Turk started chasing them in the middle of the road and the two hid into the monastery, where the Ognyan ‘voevoda’ (leader of haiduti) was also taking a rest there at that time. The legend further tell that the Turk also got to the watermill and assalted the girl. At that moment, Ognyan jumped out of his hiding place and slayed the Turk with an axe. The voevoda and the family hid the dead body of the Turk into a pile of manure behind the building but unfortunately, the hound of the Turk witnessed numbly the entire scene. The dog ran back to the town of Berkovitsa and started howling in front of the house of its owner. Concerned that something might have happened to their family member, the Turk’s relatives set off after the hound and were led to the watermill, where they eventually found the body. Enfuriated, the local Turkish authorities set the monastery on fire and slaughtered all the monks save for one who succeeded to flee away into present-day Serbia.

Around 1850, a villager from the nearby village of Lopushna, Atanas, and a priest named Petko from the village of Glavanovtsi decided to rebuild the monastery. The cleaned up the place, built a cottage and hanged an old icon into it. Other people also started to come to the place and put their efforts into the reconstruction. Thus, the Lopushanski monastery obtained a similar look to its present-day one in 1853. It became a favourite place of the renowned Bulgarian poet and writer, Ivan Vazov, who created a part of his world famous novel, Under the Yoke, while staying at the monastery. In 1989, the cloister was renovated to avoid the collapse of its northern part. The credit for the present-day marvel of the monastery goes to the then-abbot Amvrosii, who curiously, had a higher degree in engineering. He is the mastermind behind the construction of a new residential building with two beautiful woodcarved verandas.

The monastery’s church, St. John the Precursor, is consecrated in 1856 and represents a massive rectangular building with 5 domes. The outside is decorated with impressive stone plastics – something rather atypical to Bulgarian monasteries. The inside lacks wallpaintings. Yet it is worth seeing the central woodcarved iconostasis created in 1863 by the renowned Bulgarian iconpainter Nikolay Dospevski from Samokov.
Accommodation and food
At the time of our visit (May 2004), the monastery did not offer accommodation or food as it was undergoing a new repair. Yet the repair works were to be completed soon, so that the monastery reopened to tourists. The hotel part includes 16 rooms (with the price being 8-10 levs per room) and a restaurant-‘magernitsa’ (the latter meaning a monastery kitchen) for the visitors.
Transport
The monastery is relatively easy to reach by car, following the road from the town of Montana to the smaller town of Chiprovtsi. The offroad to the village of Georgi Damyanovo is then to be taken. The monastery lies shortly after the village, on the side of the road.
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Visitor ratings - 32 vote(s):
Architectural and historical value: 9.63 / 10
Tourist facilities: 8.59 / 10
Location and landscape: 9.66 / 10
Our presentation: 9.19 / 10

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Comments for Lopushanski Monastery

Published by BILL & CAROL. on 03 Mar 2008, 06:39
IP address:
Subject: UPDATED SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST.....RECOVERY FROM THE LOSS OF OUR ONLY SON AND OTHER ONGOING SORROWS!

March.2,2008.

Dear Community of Prayer,

Thank you for praying for us in our long dark night of the soul. Darkness at times that goes beyond words ..only pain and sorrow!! PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US Daily for the long term...March,April,May..2008,2009...or as long as possible?? PLEASE PRAY for God's Healing Peace and Hope in our broken hearts,health and shattered lives!! PLEASE IF POSSIBLE?? Can you help us by passing or E-mailing Our Urgent Prayer Request On: Convents,Monasteries,Parishes,Abbeys,Houses of Prayer and Others you know of in the WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY OF PRAYER...WWW....Who can pray for us daily for the long term?? 2008,2009..?? THE LOSS OF OUR ONLY SON WAS THE FINAL BLOW IN OUR ALREADY BROKEN AND CRUSHED LIVES BY OTHER SORROWS OVER THE YEARS!!! PLEASE PRAY AND PASS ON...WWW....WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY OF PRAYER??? Thank you for Your Patience and Daily Prayer Support in our long dark night of the soul. Bill & Carol, ohio.usa.
Published by Kimadio on 03 Dec 2006, 16:07
IP address: 192.138.53.36
Subject: pivetto

It was a great pleasure for me to visit and enjoy your site. Keep it running!
Published by Tzvetan Parvanov on 27 Nov 2006, 18:15
IP address: 205.206.56.197
Subject: Family Tree Origin

Rodat mi e ot Lopushna,moze bi e izvesten tam kato Zivkovi,osnovan e ot Sav,koito idva moze bi ot Pirot v nachaloto na 1600AC.Dokolkoto znam v manastira ima pismen record na rodovete v Lopushna.Ima li njakava vazmoznost da si prosledja rodoslovnoto darvo.Skoro si pravih genetichen anliz s National Geniographic Project v UAS i se okaza,che crez tozi rod vav Lopusna sam svarzan s njakolko roda v bivsha Priusia,po-tochno Steti,koito e sega v Polsha.Predpolagam,che tazi vrazka e ot moi dedi izbjagali tam sled Chiprovskoto vastanie.Pishete mi dali ima njakakva vazmoznost da proverja tova chrez arhivite na manastira.


Photo gallery


Lopushanski Monastery - the entrance
Lopushanski Monastery - the entrance

Lopushanski Monastery - the complex
Lopushanski Monastery - the complex

Lopushanski Monastery - the complex
Lopushanski Monastery - the complex

Lopushanski Monastery - the church
Lopushanski Monastery - the church

Lopushanski Monastery - the church
Lopushanski Monastery - the church

Lopushanski Monastery - the church inside
Lopushanski Monastery - the church inside

Lopushanski Monastery - the yard
Lopushanski Monastery - the yard

Lopushanski Monastery - the yard
Lopushanski Monastery - the yard

Lopushanski Monastery - a wooden statue
Lopushanski Monastery - a wooden statue



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