Arapovo Monastery
Encyclopedia
The Arapovo Monastery of Saint Nedelya is a Bulgarian Orthodox
monastery lying some six kilometres east of the town of Asenovgrad
in central southern Bulgaria
. Founded in the mid-19th century, it belongs to the Plovdiv
eparchy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and was named after the nearby village of Arapovo, today known as Zlatovrah.
Construction of the monastery began around 1856 and was initiated by the hieromonk Sophronius. The location was selected due to the presence of a holy spring nearby. The monastical school was founded in 1859, the same year the monastery's main church was completed. Architecturally, the Arapovo Monastery bears a strong resemblance to the Gorni Voden Monastery; the architect who headed the construction was master Stoyu from Yugovo. The main painter was Vasil Levski
's associate Georgi Danchov, who was assisted by Aleksi Atanasov.
The monastery's main church, dedicated to Saint Nedelya, is a large three-nave
d, three-apse
d and cross-domed church. Another feature of the monastery is the sizable stone tower in its inner yard. The rectangular tower has been linked to the famous hajduk
leader Angel Voyvoda
who is known to have been a ktitor
of the monastery. The tower has three storeys. The lower two were constructed entirely of stone and feature narrow windows intended for defensive purposes, while the top storey is a wooden bay-windowed
construction with four rooms designed for habitation.
Bulgarian Orthodox Church
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church with some 6.5 million members in the Republic of Bulgaria and between 1.5 and 2.0 million members in a number of European countries, the Americas and Australia...
monastery lying some six kilometres east of the town of Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad is a town in central southern Bulgaria, part of Plovdiv Province.-History:Asenovgrad was founded by the Thracians as Stenímachos around 300–400 BC. In 72 BC the city was captured by the troops of the Roman Empire as part of the Roman expansion towards the Black Sea. After a long period...
in central southern Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. Founded in the mid-19th century, it belongs to the Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
eparchy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and was named after the nearby village of Arapovo, today known as Zlatovrah.
Construction of the monastery began around 1856 and was initiated by the hieromonk Sophronius. The location was selected due to the presence of a holy spring nearby. The monastical school was founded in 1859, the same year the monastery's main church was completed. Architecturally, the Arapovo Monastery bears a strong resemblance to the Gorni Voden Monastery; the architect who headed the construction was master Stoyu from Yugovo. The main painter was Vasil Levski
Vasil Levski
Vasil Levski, born Vasil Ivanov Kunchev, , is a Bulgarian revolutionary and a national hero of Bulgaria. Dubbed the Apostle of Freedom, Levski ideologised and strategised a revolutionary movement to liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule...
's associate Georgi Danchov, who was assisted by Aleksi Atanasov.
The monastery's main church, dedicated to Saint Nedelya, is a large three-nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
d, three-apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
d and cross-domed church. Another feature of the monastery is the sizable stone tower in its inner yard. The rectangular tower has been linked to the famous hajduk
Hajduk
Hajduk is a term most commonly referring to outlaws, highwaymen or freedom fighters in the Balkans, Central- and Eastern Europe....
leader Angel Voyvoda
Angel Voyvoda
Angel Stoyanov Kariotov , also known as Angel Vojvoda , was one of the biggest voivods in Bulgarian history, who led the well-organized band in the regions of Plovdiv and Haskovo around 1832 and 1862. He was born in the Rodоpean village Dragoynovo in the Municipality Parvomay. The Angel peak in...
who is known to have been a ktitor
Ktitor
A ktetor or ktitor is someone who provides the funds for construction or reconstruction of an Orthodox church or monastery, for the addition of icons, frescos, and other works of art. A Catholic equivalent of the term is a donator. The female form is ktetorissa or ktitorissa ....
of the monastery. The tower has three storeys. The lower two were constructed entirely of stone and feature narrow windows intended for defensive purposes, while the top storey is a wooden bay-windowed
Bay window
A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan. The angles most commonly used on the inside corners of the bay are 90, 135 and 150 degrees. Bay windows are often associated with Victorian architecture...
construction with four rooms designed for habitation.