Varna Monastery is a large preserved

early medieval The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th to the 10th century. They marked the start of the Middle Ages of Europ ...

monastery complex, opened near Varna, Bulgaria, with the status of a cultural monument of national importance for Bulgaria since 2015.Проф. д.и.н. Казимир Попконстантинов, Д-р Росина Костова
Доклад относно археологически разкопки на обекти от Средновековието
Visited December 28, 2019; in Bulgarian

History

Varna Monastery, the Royal Monastery of the Holy Mother of God - Varna, dates from the 9th century and probably as the Ravna Monastery was burnt by the

Pechenegs The Pechenegs () or Patzinaks, , Middle Turkic languages, Middle Turkic: , , , , , , ka, პაჭანიკი, , , ; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Pečenezi, separator=/, Печенези, also known as Pecheneg Turks were a semi-nomadic Turkic peopl ...

during the invasions of the Bulgarian Lands in the 11th century, and according to other sources, it existed until the 18th century or until the beginning of the Bulgarian Revival.Община Варна получава Средновековния манастирски комплекс в Караач теке от държавата
Bulgarian National Radio; Visited December 28, 2019; in Bulgarian Found by Karel Shkorpil in 1921 on the Franga Plateau just above the city itself. Located in the most appropriate location on the plateau with view and water source. Studied in detail from 1996 until today by students in the specialty "

archeology Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscapes. Archaeolo ...

" at the Veliko Tarnovo University, as well as from the UK, Russia, Germany and Italy. A

cathedral church A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

, a chapel tower, a huge

scriptorium A scriptorium () was a writing room in medieval European monasteries for the copying and illuminating of manuscripts by scribes. The term has perhaps been over-used—only some monasteries had special rooms set aside for scribes. Often they ...

, a library, a school, a monastic dormitory, a holy shrine were found, and among the finds are an altar table, a blacksmith's workshop and coins – Bulgarian, Raška, Venetian,

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...

, Ottoman. The buildings are filled with a opus mixtum, which construction equipment is used mainly for representative buildings, for example, the

Great Basilica, Pliska The Great Basilica of Pliska () is an architectural complex in Pliska, the first capital of the First Bulgarian Empire, which includes the cathedral, an archbishop's palace and a monastery. The basilica was constructed on the orders of the ''knyaz ...

. In the area of the monastery was found the seal of

Boris I of Bulgaria Boris I (also ''Bogoris''), venerated as Saint Boris I (Mihail) the Baptizer (, ; died 2 May 907), was the ruler (knyaz) of the First Bulgarian Empire from 852 to 889. Despite a number of military setbacks, the reign of Boris I was marked wit ...

, two lead seals of

Tsar Tsar (; also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar''; ; ; sr-Cyrl-Latn, цар, car) is a title historically used by Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word '' caesar'', which was intended to mean ''emperor'' in the Euro ...

Simeon the Great and the seal of Tsar

Peter I of Bulgaria Peter I (; ; died 30 January 970) was the emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria from 27 May 927 to 969. Facing Bogomilism and rebellions by his brothers and also by Časlav Klonimirović early on in his reign, Peter secured more success later in life; he ...

. The Varna Monastery and the Ravna Monastery are considered the most significant literary centers of the Preslav Literary School outside the capitals

Pliska Pliska ( , ) was the first capital of the First Bulgarian Empire during the Middle Ages and is now List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, a small town in Shumen Province, on the Ludogorie plateau of the Danubian Plain (Bulgaria), Danubian Plain, 20 ...

and Preslav. The patron of the monastery is the

Mother of God ''Theotokos'' (Greek: ) is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Christianity. The usual Latin translations are or (approximately "parent (fem.) of God"). Familiar English translations are "Mother of God" or "God-bearer ...

, who is also the patron saint of the city of Varna.

Gallery

Царски Манастир Варна 01.jpg, The signboard Царски Манастир Варна 13.jpg, Ruins Царски Манастир Варна 38.jpg, Ruins with the 2015 Memorial Cross Царски Манастир Варна 40.jpg, View of Varna Lake Царски Манастир Варна 41.jpg, View of Varna from the bay

References

{{coord missing, Bulgaria Bulgarian Orthodox monasteries Preslav Literary School Golden Age of Bulgaria Educational institutions established in the 9th century 11th century in education Round churches Culture in Varna, Bulgaria History of Varna, Bulgaria Buildings and structures in Varna, Bulgaria Christian monasteries established in the 9th century

History

Gallery

See also

References