Chekotinski monastery "St Archangel Mihail"
Chekotinski monastery "St Archangel Mihail" is located near the village of Kalugerovo, Pravets municipality, Sofia region. It is 13 km north of the town of Pravets, 25 km northeast of the town of Botevgrad and 79 km in the same direction from the capital Sofia.
It is situated at the foot of the Predbalkan (Stara planina mountain) on the bank of Malak Iskar river and the nature which surrounds it is incredibly beautiful.
History
There are two assumptions for the origin of the name of the monastery, the first is from the old word "chekotun" that means bird choir. The other is that local nobleman.
The monastery was found during the Second Bulgarian Empire and its history is connected tightly to that of the medieval fortress Bozhenishki urvich. In the end of the XIV is demolished by the Ottomans. About a century later came monks from Sveta gora and they rebuilt it but then came the kardzhalii a group of vicious bandits and they ruined it again, only the church remained safe. According to the legend in XVIII people came here to hide from the Ottomans and slept near the church and had a dream that here there is a monastery. When they started digging almost immediately from the ground appeared the foundations of the monastery and thus began new age for the monastery and it became center of culture and education.
Architecture
Now the monastery complex is working and consists of church, residential, industrial buildings and chapel "St Genadii" and all are fenced with solid fence. From the medieval buildings remained only part of the church that is nave basilica with an apse triconchal, cylindrical vault and anteroom. Interesting is its ventilation and in the four corners through which the air passes and year round the temperature is the same. The chapel in nicely painted and is used for festive church services.
From both sides the basilica is with protruding niches. The north niche hides secret door and underground tunnel that leads to the residential building that was on the end of the rock in 1943. The entrance to it is low and with arch and is formed with carved stones. Above the entrance is set cross and from the left and right when are shown moon and sun with stars. One of the precious paintings is of God himself that is painted as an old man with cloak and with triangular and surrounded by a halo of stars celestial background. Interesting are the icon of Saint Mina and wooden richly carved iconostasis with stylized vine leaves and grapes made by masters from Tryavna.
Transportation
To go to Chekotinski monastery by car you must drive on Hemus highway to Pravets and to follow the exit for the town of Roman. The road passes the villages Praveshka lakavitsa and Kalugerovo and after the village of Kalugerovo you will see sign for the monastery and it is just 3 km from the village.
Accommodation
In the holy land of the monastery there are 25 guest rooms with separate bathrooms. Also food is offered. The tourist can use the convenient parking in front of the monastery.
Sources: http://www.bulgariamonasteries.com, http://www.bulgariainside.com
Photos: http://www.panoramio.com, http://www.snimka.bg/
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