WITNESS THE REVIVAL OF
EMBARK
on a journey through Sofia Holy Mount and immerse yourself
into a centuries-old adventure. Once surrounded with over
300 monasteries and Christian temples, today, the capital
Sofia is still besieged by many which have withstood
the sands of time...
SOFIA HOLY MOUNT
The Kremikovtsi monastery, was established during the reign of Tzar Ivan Alexander (1331–71) on the remains of a former medieval settlement. The earliest accounts of life date back to 4th century BC. In 1382, when the Ottomans conquered Sofia, the monastery was demolished with the nearby fortress. Rebuilt in 1497 by the noble Radivoy and the Bishop of Sofia Kalevit, who also restored the ruined Church of St. George. Today the temple stands at the centre of the monastery complex and is the spiritual centre of Sofia Holy Mount.
ELESHNITSA
The monastery was likely established during the 15th century. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, it was a thriving center of scholarship. A 16th-century Psalter, a Menaion, and an Octoechos (Book of eight tones) from 1702 have been preserved. From 1848 to 1862, there was a monastic school and some benefactors used their own rooms. The secret chambers of the monastery were frequently visited by Hierodeacon Ignatius – Vasil Levski. The secret revolutionary committee was established here.
THE FARM
During the 1930s the Kremikovtsi monastery owned a huge farm. Over 60 workers tended to 700 cows, 1500 sheep and 700 beehives. Today at the monastery we are reviving the farming traditions with hundreds of sheep, goats, cows and beehives. We collect fruit and herbs from forest lands and meadows in the vicinity and we produce organic foods and dairy products entirely handmade within the monastery.
Home of the Two-Headed Eagle | Teaser | 2027
А Documentary film series on the Urvich Fortress through its archeological excavations and discoveries. As part of Sofia Holy Mount it is protected on all sides by steep cliffs, and the Iskar River meanders vividly along its edge.
THE ARCHEOLOGY
Numerous archeological excavations have been going on throughout Sofia Holy Mount since the late 1960s. Today several sites are prominent for significant discoveries. The Kremikovtsi Monastery and the Urvich Fortress reveal key historical milestones. The surveys were funded by Sofia Municipality, the National
Museum of History in partnerships with some of the Monasteries.
This website is under construction and is constantly being upgraded!
HUNDREDS
of churches and monasteries
emerged during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom
and formed a ring around the present day
CAPITAL SOFIA.
From antiquity to present day,
this spriritual ring became the literary,
political and economic centre of the
Bulgarian State.
Situated on a rocky terrace, the St. George monastery in Kremikovtsi is just 20 km away from the city, and was built on the remains of a former medieval settlement. The famous Kremikovtzi Gospel was scripted here, and today the monastery is the spiritual centre of Sofia Holy Mount.
Today at the monastery we are reviving the farming traditions with hundreds of sheep, goats, cows and beehives. We collect fruit and herbs from forest lands and meadows in the vicinity and we produce organic foods and dairy products entirely handmade within the monastery.
Here you can glimpse and enjoy the most vivid view
of the capital Sofia. At the adjacent inn you can
grab traditional dishes and grills.