Rozhen monastery

The Rozhen monastery is situated on a vast meadow south from the village of Rozhen, 6 km from the unique town of Melnik. The monastery complex includes the main church, some house buildings, and fortress walls, forming a beautiful architectural ensemble. The church is decorated with numerous mural paintings, candlesticks, crosses, fretwork. Some of the icons are extremely valuable monuments of Bulgarian fine arts. On the facade of the church, picturesque scenes have been painted. Its white belfry is a unique sight. According to archeologists, the monastery was built somewhere between IX and XII century. Historians believe it was established during the ruling of Alexi Slav – a Bulgarian boyar, who ruled in the Rodopi lands. It has been burnt and destroyed many times, but has always been restored again. Nowadays, the monastery is maintained by its inhabitants, and is operating. It is a valuable cultural monument. One of Bulgaria’s greatest revolutionaries – Yane Sandanski, spent the last years of his life in it. His grave is located near the church St.St. Cyril&Methodius, not far from the Rozhen Monastery.