Matochina
Encyclopedia
Matochina is a small village in southeastern Bulgaria
, part of Svilengrad
municipality, Haskovo Province
. Matochina lies in the southernmost ridges of the Sakar Mountain, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) from the municipal centre Svilengrad and 110 kilometres (68.4 mi) from the provincial capital Haskovo
; it is located just west of the Bulgaria–Turkey
border and not far northeast of the Bulgaria–Greece
border. The village is famous for the medieval Matochina Fortress.
sultan Mehmed IV
was reported to have hunted near the abandoned fortress and the village located below it. During that time, Matochina was known as Fikla or Fikel. The village was passed to Bulgaria in 1912. It was renamed to Matochina in 1934 due to the abundance of the Mediterranean
herb lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) in the surrounding area.
by confession. The village has a medieval cave church
that dates to the 10th century; the church is named after the Epiphany and was in use until the mid-20th century. The cave church lies 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) southwest of the village. It is a rectangular room with an arch carved out of the rock. The cella
or naos is 9.9 metres (32.5 ft) wide and up to 5 metres (16.4 ft) high. The entrance to the church is an overarched passage 4.4 metres (14.4 ft) long and 3 metres (9.8 ft) high. Another church, dedicated to the Saints Constantine
and Helena
, was inaugurated in late 1935.
The Matochina Fortress (Маточинска крепост, Matochinska krepost), also known as Bukelon (Букелон), lies on a plateau
to the northeast of the village itself. Bukelon was reportedly mentioned in reports about the Battle of Adrianople
of 378. The only well-preserved part of the castle today is the inner fortress with the keep
, which is 18 metres (59.1 ft) in height and dates to the 12th–14th century. The keep is a three-storey tower with arrow loops on all sides. The third storey was reportedly used as a chapel
for the defenders. The keep was constructed out of stone and bricks. A cross-shaped brick monogram
to the side of the entrance indicates that the fortress may have been reconstructed by Tsar Michael Shishman of Bulgaria
(1323–1330). The keep is rectangular in shape with two protruding parts, one of which is semicylindrical. The Matochina Fortress was part of Adrianople
's defensive system and protected the city from the north.
in Imeon Range
on Smith Island
in the South Shetland Islands
, Antarctica is named after Matochina.
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...
, part of Svilengrad
Svilengrad
Svilengrad is a town in Haskovo Province, South-central Bulgaria, situated at the border of Turkey and Greece. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Svilengrad Municipality. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 18,132 inhabitants....
municipality, Haskovo Province
Haskovo Province
Haskovo Province is a province in southern Bulgaria, neighbouring Greece and Turkey to the southeast, comprising parts of the Thracian valley along the river Maritsa. It is named after its administrative and industrial centre - the city of Haskovo...
. Matochina lies in the southernmost ridges of the Sakar Mountain, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) from the municipal centre Svilengrad and 110 kilometres (68.4 mi) from the provincial capital Haskovo
Haskovo
Haskovo , is a city, an administrative centre of the homonymous Haskovo Province in southern Bulgaria, not far from the borders with Greece and Turkey. As of February 2011, it has a population of 74,843 inhabitants....
; it is located just west of the Bulgaria–Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
border and not far northeast of the Bulgaria–Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
border. The village is famous for the medieval Matochina Fortress.
History
Matochina has existed since at least 1664, when OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
sultan Mehmed IV
Mehmed IV
Mehmed IV Modern Turkish Mehmet was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1648 to 1687...
was reported to have hunted near the abandoned fortress and the village located below it. During that time, Matochina was known as Fikla or Fikel. The village was passed to Bulgaria in 1912. It was renamed to Matochina in 1934 due to the abundance of the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation...
herb lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) in the surrounding area.
Churches
Matochina's entire population is Bulgarian OrthodoxBulgarian 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...
by confession. The village has a medieval cave church
Cave monastery
A cave monastery is a monastery built in caves, with possible outside facilities. St. Anthony the Great known as the founder of monasticism lived in a cave.- List of cave monasteries :*Albania**St...
that dates to the 10th century; the church is named after the Epiphany and was in use until the mid-20th century. The cave church lies 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) southwest of the village. It is a rectangular room with an arch carved out of the rock. The cella
Cella
A cella or naos , is the inner chamber of a temple in classical architecture, or a shop facing the street in domestic Roman architecture...
or naos is 9.9 metres (32.5 ft) wide and up to 5 metres (16.4 ft) high. The entrance to the church is an overarched passage 4.4 metres (14.4 ft) long and 3 metres (9.8 ft) high. Another church, dedicated to the Saints Constantine
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
and Helena
Helena of Constantinople
Saint Helena also known as Saint Helen, Helena Augusta or Helena of Constantinople was the consort of Emperor Constantius, and the mother of Emperor Constantine I...
, was inaugurated in late 1935.
Castle
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
to the northeast of the village itself. Bukelon was reportedly mentioned in reports about the Battle of Adrianople
Battle of Adrianople
The Battle of Adrianople , sometimes known as the Battle of Hadrianopolis, was fought between a Roman army led by the Roman Emperor Valens and Gothic rebels led by Fritigern...
of 378. The only well-preserved part of the castle today is the inner fortress with the keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
, which is 18 metres (59.1 ft) in height and dates to the 12th–14th century. The keep is a three-storey tower with arrow loops on all sides. The third storey was reportedly used as a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
for the defenders. The keep was constructed out of stone and bricks. A cross-shaped brick monogram
Monogram
A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a...
to the side of the entrance indicates that the fortress may have been reconstructed by Tsar Michael Shishman of Bulgaria
Michael Shishman of Bulgaria
Michael Asen III ), ruled as emperor of Bulgaria from 1323 to 1330. The exact year of his birth is unknown but it was between 1280 and 1292. He was the founder of the last ruling dynasty of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the Shishman dynasty...
(1323–1330). The keep is rectangular in shape with two protruding parts, one of which is semicylindrical. The Matochina Fortress was part of Adrianople
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
's defensive system and protected the city from the north.
Honour
Matochina PeakMatochina Peak
Matochina Point is a peak rising to 750 m in the north extremity of Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Situated 3.3 km west-southwest of Cape Smith and 3.2 km northeast of Mount Christi. Overlooking Saparevo Glacier to the west and southwest, Vedena...
in Imeon Range
Imeon Range
Imeon Range is a mountain range occupying the interior of Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Extending 30 km in southwest-northeast direction between Cape James and Cape Smith, and 6.8 km wide...
on Smith Island
Smith Island (South Shetland Islands)
Smith Island is long and wide, lying west of Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands of the British Antarctic Territory. Surface area ....
in the South Shetland Islands
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
, Antarctica is named after Matochina.