Aladzha - a monastery in Bulgaria

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

This architectural Orthodox monument is included in the list of the main attractions of Bulgaria. The remains of an ancient monastery located in Varna are a mandatory item in the program of tourists vacationing in the resorts of the country.

Located near a dynamically developing city, an empty Christian monastery is now a branch of the city museum.

Why such a name?

Aladzha is a monastery whose true name is unknown to anyone. Researchers suggest that it got its name in those ancient times when Bulgaria was under the yoke of the Ottoman Empire. Translated from Arabic, the word "alaja" means "variegated, bright." It is believed that the Turks gave this name to the monastery because of its multi-colored frescoes, which stand out against the background of light stone.

It was this name that was assigned to the religious complex, and the real Orthodox, unfortunately, has been forgotten.

History of the cave monastery

The two-level rock monastery Aladzha (Bulgaria) has almostthousand years of history. It is mentioned very little in written sources, although it has existed since the 12th century. Monks from different parts of the country flocked to the Orthodox center to devote themselves to God. They were attracted by hard-to-reach terrain and complete solitude. It has recently been established that the first hermits settled in the caves as early as the 4th century, during the period of early Christianity. At the same time, the first cells were cut in a 40-meter rock.

The monks deepened the existing crevices, connecting them with passages. The soft limestone material made it possible to carry out these works without much difficulty.

Previously, such natural grottoes often became a sacred place where church ceremonies were held. Orthodox ministers dug cells in the ground or cut them out in stone. This is how entire religious complexes arose, the most famous of which was Bulgarian.

Research of the complex

For a long time, the Aladzha rock monastery remained unexplored, and only at the beginning of the 20th century, scientists began their research, which continues to this day. The religious complex is considered a unique phenomenon for the country, because the main temple with monks' cells is located in natural caves.

Two tiers for monks

The Aladzha Monastery (Varna), located in a sheer cliff, consists of two tiers connected by a stone staircase.

The lower one consists of a temple with cells, a refectory, a crypt, utility rooms. All of them are located at the level of the second and third floors, and the top one is at least the fifth. In modest-sized rooms, separatedwooden partitions, the monks lived and prayed. On the second tier, in a rock niche, there is a chapel.

The Aladzha Monastery in Bulgaria is one of the rare historical monuments in which all the premises are well preserved, and scientists have easily identified their true purpose.

The gradual establishment of the monastery

The religious cave complex acquired its appearance gradually, over several centuries. Aladzha Monastery, with its rules and traditions that have been formed over time, united people who dedicated themselves to serving the Lord.

The formation of the monastic brotherhood, as well as the heyday of the monastery, falls on the XIII-XIV centuries.

After the conquest of Bulgaria by the Turks, the natural cave complex, located in a sheer cliff, was destroyed, but this did not prevent hermit monks from living here for several centuries.

Catacombs of the complex

Archaeological expeditions discovered the remains of another cave monastery, called Katakombite, not far from the spiritual abode. Dug out during the heyday of the Byzantine Empire, the catacombs were inhabited by people in the period of the 4th-6th centuries. The ruins of an ancient basilica were found in three-tiered rooms, the walls of which are covered with early Christian inscriptions. Scientists are sure that around the 13th century, the two monasteries were merged into a single complex.

After the earthquakes, the most preserved was the middle tier, in one of the halls of which archaeologists discoveredburials of monks. Interestingly, the entrances to the caves were on two levels.

Irreparable damage

Sadly, the limestone rock is highly susceptible to erosion. Caves crumble, ceilings and walls painted with frescoes suffer. There is no trace left of the former splendor of the colorful rock carvings that gave the monastery its name.

From the most famous of them, called "The Ascension of the Lord", only a fragment has been preserved in the chapel of the upper tier. A small area of fresco painting has a great cultural value. Watercolor sketches made in the period of the 19th–20th centuries have survived to posterity.

Due to the serious danger of collapse, all passages to the catacombs are closed with bars, and a metal staircase is built outside. To enhance security, there are fences on the outside of the cliff.

National Monument and Museum of Varna

In the 50s of the last century, Aladzha (monastery) was recognized by the authorities of the country as a national monument, and later a museum was opened in it, in which tourists get acquainted with the history of Christianity in a charming corner of the Balkan Peninsula.

In addition to permanent exhibitions, every year it hosts educational exhibitions dedicated to the culture and art of Bulgaria, exhibits collections of ancient icons, fragments of surviving frescoes of the historical complex and mosaics of basilicas from the time of the Byzantine Empire found on the territory of the city. Tourists are pleased that on the ground floor of the museum is presented in five languages, including Russian, the history ofmonastery.

Here you can buy memorable gifts, church books and religious paraphernalia.

Legends of the ancient place

Visitors of the ancient monastery are told by local guides of various legends that it has grown over a long time of existence. The most mysterious and mystical tells about the ghost of a monk wandering through the caves - the guardian of this place. He conducts conversations with people who are unaware that they are talking with a disembodied spirit, and after the conversation, the attendant dissolves into thin air in front of frightened tourists.

No less interesting is the story of the treasures hidden inside the caves. The monks who fled from the enslaved territories of Bulgaria carried the most valuable thing into the rock complex, closed from prying eyes. Huge we alth was hidden in a secret room, which only the elite knew about. Until now, the treasure that disturbs the minds of the inhabitants has not been found.

Cultural and historical monument

Aladzha is a monastery that has acquired great cultural significance for Bulgaria. Now it receives visitors who come to Varna from all over the world. Since 2009, colorful light and music programs have been organized for tourists in the summer, telling about the legends of the local landmark and the past of the architectural relic.

In a small amphitheater, spectators watch the visual effects of an amazing laser show right on the rock. The performance is dedicated to the memory of the first scientists who began a large-scale study of the cave complex and became the founders of Bulgarian archeology.

A memorable sight

Before climbing the rock, a chest is installed in which tourists drop notes with he alth wishes for themselves and loved ones. But leaving such messages in rock crevices is strictly prohibited. There is a source of holy water near the monastery, so everyone who wants to collect the healing liquid in bottles.

It is recommended to bring special equipment with you to leave memorable videos and photos about your acquaintance with the caves.

Aladzha (monastery) is located in the natural park Golden Sands, 17 kilometers from Varna. A popular destination, nestled among forested mountainous terrain, is visited by ecotourism enthusiasts and Christian pilgrims. Many believers come to the non-functioning religious complex to pray.

According to tourists, Aladzha is a monastery with an extraordinary aura. A calm and majestic place, where everything breathes history, will give you many pleasant impressions and unforgettable minutes.