Zemen monastery

Zemen monastery was founded in the 11th century. From that period dates back the oldest preserved fresco in the monastery church – the image of St. Anna. In fact, the church is the only original building surviving the centuries since the monastery was founded several times over and over again due to the few destruction and burning of the inhabitants. To reach the monastery, you have to drive 70 kilometers from Sofia or 35 from Kyustendil to the town of  Zemen at the foot of Konyavska mountain.

Besides the frescoes and the living faces of the drawings, which are undoubtedly masterpieces, the Zemen Monastery also attracts several legends. According to one, it was a Bogomil center and, according to a published historical book a decade ago, the Bogomils hid there the secret sign of the Bulgarians, who could unite the religions around the world. Apart from the preserved fresco of the 11th century, the stone floor of the church is also original. Very interesting is the scene of forging the nails on the cross on which the Jesus Christ is crucified. Just like in the legend of the scene, a woman makes the nail. It is supposed to be because the blacksmith did not want to forge the nails to the cross and pretended to hurt his hand. But his wife agreed and made them. In the fresco according to the Masonic organizations, a secret message is also hidden.

The mural painting “Communion of the Apostles” in the church of the monastery is also very interesting. Typically, in such frescoes, Jesus gives a wine with one hand and the bread with the other to his disciples. In the 11th century church, however, there is a painted Christ twice, and the apostles are divided into two pairs of six. On one Jesus gives the wine and on the other half of the apostles – the bread. In the church take a look at the 14th-century paintings of Despot Dean and his wife Doya. According to their speeches, they are the oldest and most significant of the artistic value after the fresco of Kaloyan and Desislava in Boyana Church. If you have a craving wish, do not miss to pray on the altar in the church. According to the legend, it is miraculous and does not fail to satisfy the wishes of the petitioners. The entrance to the church-museum costs 3 leva or approximately 1,5 euro.