Zemen Monastery

In today's article we are going to delve into the topic of Zemen Monastery, an issue that has gained relevance in recent times. As society advances and evolves, it is essential to be aware of the different facets of Zemen Monastery and understand its impact on our daily lives. From its origins to its relevance today, we will explore all aspects related to Zemen Monastery to provide a broad and complete overview. In addition, we will analyze the implications that Zemen Monastery has in different areas, from politics to people's daily lives. We hope this article is a useful and enlightening guide for those interested in delving deeper into the topic of Zemen Monastery.

42°28′3″N 22°44′18″E / 42.46750°N 22.73833°E / 42.46750; 22.73833

The 11th-century church (katholikon) of the Zemen Monastery

The Zemen Monastery (Bulgarian: Земенски манастир, Zemenski manastir) is a Bulgarian Orthodox monastery located one kilometre away from the town of Zemen, Pernik Province in western Bulgaria.

The monastery was established in the 11th century. It comprises a church, belfry and two residential buildings. It is currently uninhabited. The church is a monument of culture.[1]

The church dates from the foundation of the monastery in the late 11th century and has a cube shape, 9 metres long, 8 metres wide, 11.20 metres high. The material used was travertine. The altar is a stone monolith and the floor is made of colourful tiles. The church is richly painted inside, with two layers of frescoes, the scarcely preserved early one dating to the 11th century. The better preserved Biblical scenes date from the mid-14th century and include several portraits of donors: the first one depicting an unnamed man, his wife Doya and their two children, the second featuring a young man, Vitomir, and a boy, Stoyu. These portraits rank among the oldest and artistically most valuable in the Balkans after the frescoes of the Boyana Church.

  • Front view of the church
    Front view of the church
  • Apse view of the church
    Apse view of the church
  • Courtyard and 19th-century residential buildings
    Courtyard and 19th-century residential buildings
  • Medieval frescoes in the Zemen moneastery
    Medieval frescoes in the Zemen moneastery
  • Interior view of the church with its medieval frescoes
    Interior view of the church with its medieval frescoes
  • 14th-century fresco of Joachim and Anne
    14th-century fresco of Joachim and Anne

References

  1. ^ "Zemen monastery | National History Museum".
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