Bulgarian Church to celebrate 800th anniversary of Ivanovo rock-hewn churches

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is preparing to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the rock-hewn churches in Ivanovo, in the north-central Ruse Province, this year and next.

His Eminence Metropolitan Naum of Ruse met with the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Ruse Province recently to discuss preparations for the upcoming celebrations, reports Dobrotoliubie.

The program provides for festive initiatives and services both in 2020 and 2021. Among the events included are an academic conference on the history and spirituality of the holy monastery, as well as solemn molebens on the more important dates and Church feasts associated with it.

The idea is to promote one of the most significant sites of medieval ecclesiastical and cultural heritage in Bulgaria under the protection of UNESCO. The rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. 

The caves in the region were inhabited by monks from the 1220s, when the monastery was founded by the future Patriarch Joachim I of Bulgaria, until the 17th century. Cells, churches, and chapels were hewn out of solid rock, forming a completely unique monastery complex for Bulgaria. At its peak, there were around 40 churches, and another 300 rooms, most of which have not survived until today.

The monastery enjoyed a number of royal patrons throughout its history.

It was a center of hesychasm for the Bulgarian Church and is known for its 13th and 14th century frescoes preserved in five churches, considered beautiful examples of Bulgarian medieval art.

Measures are also being considered to improve infrastructure and access to all rock churches found in the area. The possibility that other rock churches will also be included in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List was also discussed.

In the near future, there will also be an expanded meeting with the participation of all interested institutions, such as the provincial administration of Ruse, the municipality of Ivanovo, the Holy Metropolis of Ruse, and the Regional Historical Museum. Together, they will draw up a detailed action plan and specify targeted actions to achieve the relevant goals.

Source: Orthochristian.com| Photo: Wikimedia.org