Kilifarevo Monastery “The Nativity of Mother of God”

Orthodox name:The Nativity of Virgin Mary

Near monasteries:Plakovski monastery, Kapinovo monastery, Dryanovo Monastery.

Latest review: Hello,

My name is Radu, and i represent a small and dynamic adventure tourism company from Bucharest. I want to ask you the permission to use some of the photos from your site, for the description of our tour that pass throught Bulgaria. It would be ok?

Best wishes,
Radu
Radu Voiculescu, 19.03.2020
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Kilifarevo Monastery - The church "St.Dimitar"

Kilifarevo Monastery - The entrance of the monastery

Kilifarevo Monastery - The complex outside

Kilifarevo Monastery - The monastery courtyard

Kilifarevo Monastery - Residential buildings

Kilifarevo Monastery - The dome of the main church

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Location:

The Kilifarevo Monastery lies in a beautiful forest on the banks of the Belitsa River, about 4km southeast of the town of Kilifarevo and only 14km from the Veliko Turnovo town.

Transport:

The Kilifarevo Monastery is located near the main road starting from the town of Kilifarevo to the town of Gurkovo as the turn to the holy cloister is several kilometers after Kilifarevo (12km).

History:

The Kilifarevo Monastery “The Nativity of Virgin Mary” is established in 1348 from the renowned Bulgarian clergyman, Teodosii Turnovski with the generous support of the Bulgarian ruler Ivan Aleksander. Teodosii became an abbot in the monastery and turned it into one of the most significant educational and literal centre of the Orthodox Hesychasm. Various kinds of liturgical books, biographies, sermons and secular chronicles have been written for years in the monastery. The holy cloister has become a centre of the literary school which boasted 460 students in 1360, the most distinguished of who were the future Bulgarian Patriarch Evtimii , Romil Vidinski and the future Kiev and Moscow’s metropolitan bishop Kyprian. When the Ottoman invasion reached Turnovo, the monastery has been enforced with walls and battle towers. Personally the king Ivan Alexander made donations for the construction of the main tower and a new church. Notwithstanding, after the fall of Turnovo from power, the newly-strengthened monastery has been devastated by the Turks.

The name of Kilifarevo monastery was mentioned in the annals in 1442 and all survived rebels from the Second Turnovo Revolt found their shelter in it in 1596. That was the reason why the monastery was conflagrated by the Turks and its fortress walls have been destroyed completely. A monastery has no longer been restored at that place.

The Kilifarevo Monastery was erected on its present place on the banks of the river Belitsa in 1718, just above the old monastery. During that time the richly decorated church “The Nativity of Holy Mother” and its s its two chapels have been built in honour of Ivan Rilski and Teodosii Turnovski. A part of the monastery was destroyed in the end of 18th century during the Kurdzhali raids, but soon after it was renovated. Kolyo Ficheto, an eminent Bulgarian master began the construction of the nowadays church “St. Dimitar” in 1840. He has kept a part of the old alter wall and the two chapels. The temple was finished in the 1842,, while the internal decoration was completed a year later. The Kilifarevo Monastery has been turned into a convent in 1950.

Architecture and present condition:

The Kilifarevo Convent is fully operational and it includes a church, residential and farming buildings. Kolyo Fitcheto, the famous Bulgarian master from the period of Bulgarian Revival, started the construction of the third church in the Kilifarevo Monastery. He has kept a part of the old altar walls and the two chapels, dedicated to St.Teodosii and St.Ivan Rilski. Hence, the three premises were united under one roof and the present appearance of the nowadays one-domed basilica “St.Dimitur” has been formed. The temple was finished in 1842 as its internal area was divided in the shape of cross. Most of the frescoes are located in the two chapels and they date back to 1718. Gospel depicting scenes are situated in the upper parts, whereas the lower row is occupied with figures in full-length. The figures of the Archangel Gavril and Virgin Mary are depicted on both sides of the altar. The mural paintings in the Kilifarevo Monastery are typical for the beginning of 18th century since stiffness and disproportion of the poses and gestures of the characters is perceived.

The gold-plated iconostasis, a masterpiece, created in 1843 by two woodcarvers, Tsonyo and Simeon Vassilevi, a father and a son from Tryavna town, is preserved till the present day.
The iconostasis represents a golden masterpiece, done by two woodcarvers, Tsonyo and Simeon Vassilevi – a father and a son from the town of Tryavna. Bsides the ocnostasis, the visitor is also impressed by the icons of the Tryavna iconpainters Dosyu Koev, Simeon Simeonov, Yonko Popvitanov.
Besides the iconostasis, the icons of the Tryavna iconpainters Dosyu Koev, Yonko Popvitanov impress the visitor of the Kilifarevo Monastery. The most famous icon, though, is the one depicting the secluded life of the hermit Ivan Rilski. The monastery’s complex consists of other two beautiful two-storey residential buildings in the authentic style of the Bulgaria’s Revival period.
Telephone number of the monastery:+359/International code for dialling Bulgaria/ 6114 2480

Accommodation:

The Kilifarevo monastery offers accommodation. Rooms with a bathroom and a separateWC are available, as well as rooms without a bathroom and WC. The visitor may have a meal in a mehana (i.e. pub) just 500 m from the monastery’s gates.

Places of interest in the region:

The fortress “Tsarevets” is located 14km away from the Kilifarevo monastery, 20km from the picturesque village of Arbanassi. Both of them are included in the list of the 100 Bulgaria’s historical places.

Photogallery:

Kilifarevo Monastery - Mural in the minster-17th century

Kilifarevo Monastery - Residential building

Kilifarevo Monastery - The complex from the outside

Radu Voiculescu for Kilifarevo Monastery, 19.03.2020

Hello,

My name is Radu, and i represent a small and dynamic adventure tourism company from Bucharest. I want to ask you the permission to use some of the photos from your site, for the description of our tour that pass throught Bulgaria. It would be ok?

Best wishes,
Radu

Pearl C Buenafe for Kilifarevo Monastery, 03.09.2018

i am a senior female travelling alone . I am interested in staying at your place from Feb. 26, 2019 to march 4, 2019 to do some discerning. I would like a single room if possible,with private w/c & bathroom. I walk with a walker so i would need a room on the lower floor. i hope you can accomodate my request. thanks

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StewartSmith for Kilifarevo Monastery, 25.12.2015

Teodosii became an abbot in the monastery and turned it into one of the most significant educational and literal centre of the Orthodox Hesychasm. Various kinds of liturgical books, biographies, sermons and secular chronicles have been written for years in the monastery.

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