Kalotina
Encyclopedia
Kalotina is a village in Dragoman
municipality, Sofia Province
, in westernmost central Bulgaria
. As of 2010 it has 270 inhabitants and the mayor is Lidia Bozhilova. The village is located at the border with Serbia
, 55 km to the northwest of the capital Sofia
, on the main highway and railway between Western Europe
and Asia
. Kalotina lies at 42°59′N 22°52′E, 282 metres above sea level. Kalotina is known for the Kalotina-Gradinje
border checkpoint
, one of Bulgaria's busiest and best-known due to the proximity to Sofia. The Nishava River, a tributary of the South Morava, flows nearby.
The village was first mentioned in 1453 with its present name. In a 1576 source, it was referred to as Kalotine. Kalotina's name is the feminine form of an adjective derived from the personal name
Kalota (Калота); it is an ellipse, as no noun is part of the name.
The village has a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church dedicated to Saint Nicholas
built in the 14th century, during the rule of Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
(as indicated by an inscription in the church). It was richly decorated with murals, although they have been badly preserved. The church donors are thought to have been Deyan and Vladislava from the church in Kučevište, and the church was likely built between 1331 and 1334/7.
Dragoman, Bulgaria
Dragoman is a small town in the Sofia Province, western Bulgaria. The town is located very close to the border with Serbia. the population is 3,522.-Honour:Dragoman Glacier on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands is named after Dragoman....
municipality, Sofia Province
Sofia Province
Sofia Province is a province of Bulgaria. The province does not include Sofia in its territories, but Sofia however remains its administrative center...
, in westernmost central 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...
. As of 2010 it has 270 inhabitants and the mayor is Lidia Bozhilova. The village is located at the border with Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, 55 km to the northwest of the capital Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, on the main highway and railway between Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. Kalotina lies at 42°59′N 22°52′E, 282 metres above sea level. Kalotina is known for the Kalotina-Gradinje
Gradinje
Gradinje is a village in the municipality of Dimitrovgrad, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 178 people, most of whom were Bulgarians. The village is close to the major border checkpoint with Bulgaria, Gradinje-Kalotina....
border checkpoint
Border checkpoint
A border checkpoint is a place, generally between two countries, where travellers and/or goods are inspected. Authorization often is required to enter a country through its borders. Access-controlled borders often have a limited number of checkpoints where they can be crossed without legal...
, one of Bulgaria's busiest and best-known due to the proximity to Sofia. The Nishava River, a tributary of the South Morava, flows nearby.
The village was first mentioned in 1453 with its present name. In a 1576 source, it was referred to as Kalotine. Kalotina's name is the feminine form of an adjective derived from the personal name
Personal name
A personal name is the proper name identifying an individual person, and today usually comprises a given name bestowed at birth or at a young age plus a surname. It is nearly universal for a human to have a name; except in rare cases, for example feral children growing up in isolation, or infants...
Kalota (Калота); it is an ellipse, as no noun is part of the name.
The village has a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church dedicated to Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
built in the 14th century, during the rule of Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
Ivan Alexander , also known as John Alexander, ruled as Emperor of Bulgaria from 1331 to 1371, during the Second Bulgarian Empire. The date of his birth is unknown. He died on February 17, 1371. The long reign of Ivan Alexander is considered a transitional period in Bulgarian medieval history...
(as indicated by an inscription in the church). It was richly decorated with murals, although they have been badly preserved. The church donors are thought to have been Deyan and Vladislava from the church in Kučevište, and the church was likely built between 1331 and 1334/7.