The Bistritza Monastery "Saint Yoan Bogoslov" lies at a distance of 6 km west of Vratza, hugged in the mountainous slopes. In the rocks above the monastery there is a giant opening with a natural vault of 30 m height. At the southern part of this vault there are mural paintings. The preserved inscription under them tells about the founding of the monastery in 1540 by Dimiter Dubov. From the old monastery complex most well-preserved is the church from XVI c. It is a single-nave building with a size of 7,50 x 11,50 meters. The church has two layers of murals. The wood-carved iconostasis was made in 1820 by the Tryavna master Peter Minyov. He is also the author of part of the icons. During the Ottoman yoke and especially during XVII and XIX c the monastery played a significant role for the cultural development of the Vratza region. There was a goldsmith's workshop in the monastery.
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Icon of the Virgin Mary
