Brestovo Monastery St. Archangel Mihail

St. Archangel Mihail monastery was built in 1149. The monastery is to be found in the Stara Reka (Old River) Valley, in Popovska quarter. In the past, the monastery has been surrounded by, a wall 3-m high and 1m wide. It was built according to a unique plan, possessing an exceptional solidity. Under the atmospheric conditions, the stones gradually started to destroy, but the main link between them remained tough. It is supposed that the toughness is due to the fact that the mortar is made of milk, sugar and eggs. Then walls are history, nowadays. Only stones are left. The monastery possessed a rich economy. When the Ottomans conquered Bulgaria, the cattle were sold out. The gold coins were hidden by the Priest Gavrail, later the Priest was burnt alive, because of the gold. In 1904, during the Great Earthquake, the monastery was destroyed. If was rebuilt 2 years later. In 1964, a man called Lazar Popgavrilov rebuilt the tower with the bell, which was damaged after the Great Earthquake. About 40 old icons and church relics are found in the monastery. Some of them were granted the monastery after its restoration. The restoration is done by some rich and patriotic Bulgarians. The big white marble stone over. The floor is of great interest. Two-headed eagle, the symbol of the Constantinople Patriarchate is carved on the marble stone. The names of the donators are also carved on it- these are Zlatko and Peter.