Milenko Velev
Encyclopedia
Milenko Stefanov Velev, known as Master Milenko and Milenko Radomirets was a builder and architect
from the time of the Bulgarian Renaissance
.
district in Bulgaria
. In 1859 he signed a letter, addressed to the Zograf Monastery
as Milenko Blateshnitski. He is a renowned builder in Mount Athos
and in Southwest Bulgaria as well.
He builds mainly churches and residential buildings, but he has been also charged with state building projects. One of those was the bridge on Struma river
near the city of Boboshevo
. Among his works are the churches “St. Nikolas” in Balanovo (1844), “St. Nikolas” in Dupnitsa (1844), “St. Petka” in Tran, Bulgaria
(1853), “St. Mary” in Boboshevo
(1853), “St. Elijah” in Granitsa, Bulgaria
(1857). In the last village he has built the famous “Granitski House” - a residential fortified tower.
The most notorious of his works is the south wing of the Rila Monastery
(1847–1848). It is a beautiful building with two-storey monastic cells, solved in an interesting manner. There are situated the refectory, the abbotry, the hospital, the book depository (skevofilakija) and the library.
The churches, constructed by Master Milenko were built with a mixed stone and bricks work. They own rich facade plastic decoration, containing blind arcades and three-coloured arch-like pediments. All of them are in perfect geometrical proportions and details. They are among the most beautiful buildings in the Bulgarian Renaissance church architecture.
There is no information of master Milenko's fate after 1859.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
from the time of the Bulgarian Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
.
Biography
The master was born in the end of the 18th century in Blateshnitsa, RadomirRadomir
Radomir is a town in the Pernik Province of Bulgaria with a population of about 16,503. It is located at .- History :The town was first mentioned in a 15th-century source as Uradmur. The current form appears for the first time in a source from 1488...
district in 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...
. In 1859 he signed a letter, addressed to the Zograf Monastery
Zograf Monastery
The Saint George the Zograf Monastery or Zograf Monastery is a Bulgarian Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos in Greece...
as Milenko Blateshnitski. He is a renowned builder in Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
and in Southwest Bulgaria as well.
He builds mainly churches and residential buildings, but he has been also charged with state building projects. One of those was the bridge on Struma river
Struma River
The Struma or Strymónas is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. Its ancient name was Strymōn . Its catchment area is 10,800 km²...
near the city of Boboshevo
Boboshevo
Boboshevo is a town in Western Bulgaria. It is located in Kyustendil Province and is close to the towns of Kocherinovo and Rila.The town of Boboshevo is situated around to the south of Sofia and from Bulgaria's prime skiing destination, Bansko...
. Among his works are the churches “St. Nikolas” in Balanovo (1844), “St. Nikolas” in Dupnitsa (1844), “St. Petka” in Tran, Bulgaria
Tran
Tran or TRAN may refer to:* Tran, Bulgaria, a small town in Pernik Province, western Bulgaria* Trần , a Vietnamese surname spelled as Chan in Cantonese or Chen in Mandarin. This is one of the most populated surname in both Vietnam and China. As the descendent of Han Chinese, many immigrated to...
(1853), “St. Mary” in Boboshevo
Boboshevo
Boboshevo is a town in Western Bulgaria. It is located in Kyustendil Province and is close to the towns of Kocherinovo and Rila.The town of Boboshevo is situated around to the south of Sofia and from Bulgaria's prime skiing destination, Bansko...
(1853), “St. Elijah” in Granitsa, Bulgaria
Granitsa
Granitsa is a mountain village in the Evrytania prefecture located at 850 meters of altitude. It is built into the forested downhill regions of Mount Liakoura next to the Granitsiotis River. It also offers views of the Granitsiotis valley and the mountain. Granitsa was the seat of the...
(1857). In the last village he has built the famous “Granitski House” - a residential fortified tower.
The most notorious of his works is the south wing of the Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of above sea level...
(1847–1848). It is a beautiful building with two-storey monastic cells, solved in an interesting manner. There are situated the refectory, the abbotry, the hospital, the book depository (skevofilakija) and the library.
The churches, constructed by Master Milenko were built with a mixed stone and bricks work. They own rich facade plastic decoration, containing blind arcades and three-coloured arch-like pediments. All of them are in perfect geometrical proportions and details. They are among the most beautiful buildings in the Bulgarian Renaissance church architecture.
There is no information of master Milenko's fate after 1859.