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Arapovo Monastery

The Arapovo Monastery (Arapovo is the old name of the village of Zlatovruh), is the only Bulgarian monastery built not in a secured mountain spot but in an open valley. Also, it is the only monastery built during the Ottoman rule. The monasterys real name is St.Nedelya (meaning “Sunday”). It was built in 1856.  It is remarkable with the mural paintings in the church, made by the talented Bulgarian Revival period artist Alexy Atanassov from Negoush and his student George Dantchov. 

The master-painters depicted scenes of the life of Cyril and Methodius, the creators of the Slavonic literacy, which is unique for the Bulgarian school of painting: the creation of the Slavonic letters, the adoption of Christianity by Knjaz (prince) Boris I and the enlightenment of the Bulgarian people. There are remarkable scenes of the death and the burial of St. St. Cyril and Methodius, as well as images of various Bulgarian saints. There are also many historical scenes depicting peasants in national costumes.

The road to the Monastery The road to the Monastery
The road to the Monastery
The road which leads to the Monastery
The Monastery gate The Monastery gate
The Monastery gate
The Monastery gate
The Monastery walls The Monastery walls
The Monastery walls
The Monastery wallsBulgarian spirit had been preserved behind these stonewalls.
The Monastery hostel The Monastery hostel
The Monastery hostel
The Monastery hostelThe Monastery hostel, with a kitchen and a dining room. 
The St.Nedelya church The St.Nedelya church
The St.Nedelya church
The St.Nedelya churchThe big domical church is an interesting monument of the Revival architecture.
The Holy Spring The Holy Spring
The Holy Spring
The monastery's Holy Spring The monastery's Holy Spring - believed to have healing abilities. 
The reconstructed tower The reconstructed tower
The reconstructed tower
The reconstructed tower of Angel Voivoda The reconstructed tower of Angel Voivoda - freedom fighter, defending his fellow villagers against the Turkish outrages in this region.
The ceiling mural The ceiling mural
The ceiling mural
The Holy Spring's ceiling mural  The Holy Spring's ceiling mural  - showing the ninth-century conversion of Knjaz Boris-Mikhail to Christianity in his home.