Lozensky monastery of St. Spas description and photos - Bulgaria: Sofia (Topic)

Lozensky monastery of St. Savior description and photos - Bulgaria: Sofia. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

The Lozensky monastery of the Holy Savior is located 900 meters above sea level on the northern slope of Mount Polovrak, 5 km from the village of Dolni Lozen. The first monastery on this site was built in the XIII century. In the XIV century, when the fortresses of Urvich, Serdets, and then the entire Sofia region fell under the control of the invaders as a result of the Ottoman invasion, the monastery was plundered, burned and soon fell into disrepair. It was only revived in the 17th century. In 1737, the monastery became the center of an uprising, which is why it was again destroyed by the Turks.

In 1821, on the foundations of the destroyed Christian monastery, local residents built a new complex. The erected one-nave church of the Holy Ascension of the Lord with one apse was 14 meters long and 7 meters wide. The building has been rebuilt several times, as evidenced by the inscription above the main entrance to the temple. Three large domes crowning the low towers on the roof of the church, which have survived to this day, were quite an unusual solution for the Bulgarian temple architecture at that time.

In 1869, the painter of Samokov N. Obrazopisov, together with Kh. Zografsky and D. Dupnichanin re-painted the church and domes. The frescoes, which have survived to this day in fairly good condition, attract with their colorfulness and color saturation. The number of various saints and historical figures depicted on the walls and vaults of the temple is so great that it is not found anywhere else in the Sofia region.

Currently, visitors to this cultural and historical landmark can see ancient frescoes and restored icons 1850-1890.

Interesting architecture and interior decoration of the temple make it a valuable monument of Bulgarian culture and art. From the top on which the monastery stands, there is a beautiful view of the Sofia Basin - the valley in which the cities of Sofia, Kostinbrod, and a number of villages are located.

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Topic: Lozensky monastery of St. Spas description and photos - Bulgaria: Sofia.