Merdanski Monastery St. Forty Martyrs

The Merdanski Monastery “St. Forty Martyrs” is among the oldest sanctuaries in the Balkan Mountains. It was founded in 13 century during the Second Bulgarian kingdom and was renovated in 19 century. Now it is a going convent. It is situated in the Tarnovo Heights of the Central Predbalkan, at the western end of the village of Merdania, 10 km west of the town of Zlataritsa and 11 km south-east of the town of Lyaskovets. The monastery is a complex of Minster, residential and farm buildings. The Minster, 20x9 m, is a basilica with one apse, with a narthex and a dome on a high drum. It was built in 1867 with funds of Hadji Kesariy Horozov from the town of Elena, who became abbot of the monastery. The legend tells the monastery was built on the spot where the Patriarch of Tarnovo Joanikiy II gave a solemn welcome to Tsar Ivan Asen II after his glorious victory against the Byzantines at Klokotnitsa (March 9,1230), which happened on the feast of St. Forty Martyrs Sevastiyski. The monastery is a monument of culture.

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