St. Georgi Monastery near Pomorie

The monastery of St. Georgi near the coastal town of Pomorie is the only active monastery in Southeastern Bulgaria and a magnificent architectural monument of the National Revival. A marble bas-relief of a Thracian rider shows that once a Thracian sanctuary lied here and later, in 7 century, a Christian cloister rose on the spot. Originally the building was single-nave but was burned down and destroyed by the Ottomans, which is evidenced by the big charred icon of St. Georgi from 1607. The present church was built in 1856 during the Ottoman yoke with the financial support of the local Christians. The new cloister covers the old one, as only its façade has remained, reminding of the far 7 century. Because of the comparatively new appearance of the church there are no wall paintings. The altar was made by unknown master. In 1945 the church was expanded by two lateral altars – one of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and the other – of the Holy martyrs Sofia, Vyara (Faith), Nadezhda (Hope), and Lyubov (Love).