이바노보(Ivanovo) 암석교회군

이바노보(Ivanovo) 암석교회군. 루세(Rousse). 불가리아(Bulgaria)

museumruse.com

Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo

Hundreds of premises, part of old monasteries, have been cut into the cliffs of the Rousse Lom river valley. They have turned the Lom river valley into a center of the Bulgarian spirituality. The largest of them is the Royal Monastery of "St. Archangel Michael", which have united the power of art and the culture of significant Bulgarian rulers and spiritual leaders. Inside this religious and cultural center are preserved unique frescoes from the 13th and the 14th century. The "St. Archangel Michael" monastery is an important religious center of Orthodoxy, with prominent leaders of the Bulgarian church being related to it. The monastery was founded by the monk Yoakim in the 20s of the 13th century, who was also a spiritual mentor of Tsar Ivan Asen II (1218-1241). Tsar Kaloyan (1197-1207) before him, in order to win the Bulgarian clerical independence, entered into an Uniat with the Roman Pope, but Tsar Ivan Asen II under the influence of Yoakim returned the Bulgarians into the bosom of Orthodoxy. An independent Bulgarian church was reestablished in 1235 and was headed by Yoakim.

The beginning of the tourist trail: asphalt road, path of the old monks, panoramic rock, wooden bridge, rock-hewn church.

The chruch "The Holy Mother" is World Heritage Site because its frescoes - the work of a gifted artist from Tamovo in 14th century, are one of the best surviving examples of the "Palaeologian" style throughout the entire Medieval Christian art. There are 25 preserved fields with paintings on the ceiling, representing scenes from the Gospel. Their position suggests that the inhabitants of this complex were supporters of "Hesychasm" - a mystical school in Orthodoxy.

Panoramic rock -  a site for observation of the rest of the "St. Archangel Michael" Monastery in the valley of the "Letters". You can see the rock churches, called "The Barber's Shop", "The Buried-under Church", "The Baptistery", "Gods Gorge", "The Overturned Church".

Lomovete

Welcome to the Lomovete special protection area (SPA) - a part of the Natura 2000 network.

The Birds

The area boasts with 149 species of birds, 37 of them are includen in the Bulgarian Red List, and 59 have conservation significance of European level.

The Egyptian Vulture

Rusenski Lom Nature Park

To the Visitors of Rusenski Lom Nature Park

To all nature-lovers, who are here to discover the beauty of nature !

Welcome to the protected area of Rusenski Lom Nature Park !

This is not an urban park. Therefore do not expect to find here paved lanes with road marking, flower beds or other urban features.

When you are in the Nature Park, among the habitants of the wild nature, please:

- minimise your noise to not threaten them

- do not leave wastes

- Collect and take with you empty bottles, plastic packs and paper wastes to the settlements, from where these wastes will be transported to landfills.

- do not pick up wild flowers - they fade quickly !

- Take with you the memory of the wild nature on a picture !

The habitants of the protected area will be grateful to you and will look forward to meeting you again !

Resunski Lom Nature Park Directorate

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