Medieval monastery complex "St. Yoan Prodrom"
The medieval monastery complex "Yoan Prodrom" is a beautiful Bulgarian monastery situated on the picturesque right bank of the River Arda in Kardzhali's housing estate "Veselchane."
It is located 48 km from the town of Haskovo and about 244 km south-east of the capital Sofia city.
The remains of the monastery were discovered for the first time in the 30s of last century by a group of local archaeologists. Later - in 1962, new parts of the monastery and the ruins of the church were found during building works. Excavations, however, started only in the mid 80s. This is when elements of a large monastic complex surrounded by solid walls came to light. The walls of a church with unique frescoes, reaching in places up to 3.5 meters stood in its center. Archaeologists have suggested that it was a temple of an Episcopal monastery founded in the XIII century.
HISTORY
Historical records and preserved remains of constructions give rise to claims that the monastery has become a bishop, and later in a bishopric center at the end of IX and early X century. The unique artifacts found in the temple and around it - five brick tombs, are evidence for this. One of the tombs located in the church was airtight. After its careful opening the relics of a senior Christian cleric dating from the end of XI and the beginning of XII century were found as well as a completely preserved stole (ecclesiastical vestment) woven with gold and with quite unusual decoration and cross-stitched religious relics.
The first church in the monastery complex appears in the second half of the ninth century. It represents a nave, apse church, typical for the early Christianity. Today slight remains of the apse and central part can be seen.
Later, at the beginning of XI century, at the place of this church a monumental apse temple whose architecture resembles the Athons' temple "St. Athanasius" was built. During the XII-XIV century the church was decorated and the monastery was gradually built up with representative premises. At first the monastery was supplied with water via a special covered plumbing, built of stone plates. In the courtyard of the monastery a well with rectangular shape can still be seen.
The rich complex, which used to serve as the archdiocese Ahrides' center, accomplished a lively trade with the outside world, but attracted robbers as well. At the beginning of the XIII century it was plundered and destroyed most likely by the Fourth Crusade's knights. The monks rebuilt it, but in the 40s of the XIV century it was destroyed again and is now abandoned.
Legend has it that after another foray the south niche on which the painter left the words - "I, Dobromir, wrote in the holy Prodrom", was rewritten. The monastery experienced moments of rise and fall. Life in it subsides in the late 14th century, but the memory of it remained until the beginning of the new century.
Today only three of the castle's walls have survived and the old written sources indicate that a fort of four towers have risen there. Its structure resembles the Roman and early Byzantine fortresses. The rectangular form of the monastery fortification is characteristic of Athos monasteries from the end of the 10th and early 11th century. A model of the overall look of the monastery based on scientific reconstructions is offered on the book market.
Due to its high artistic and architectural value, the remains of the medieval monastery and church of "St. Yoan Prodrom" have been declared monuments of cuture of national importance and the monastery was included in the 100 National Tourist Sites of Bulgaria. Most of the findings can be seen in the Regional Museum of History in the town of Kardzhali.
Transport and accomodation
The monastery can easily be reached as it is situated in the town of Kardzhali. The town has wonderful accommodation conditions - a few hotels, villas and guest houses are available for tourists.
Source: www.bulgariancastles.com, www.kardzhali-tourism.info
Photos:Mirela, http://bulgariatravel.org
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