The Kapinovo Monastery
Presentation
Work time
How do we get to
Service
Practical information
Information Center
Contacts
The Kapinovo Monastery “Saint Nikola the Miracle Worker” is located 14 km from the city of Veliko Tarnovo and some 5 km from the village of Velchevo. The Monastery is declared an artistic and cultural landmark in Issue № 51 of The State Decrees for 1973. According to an inscription that no longer exists, a smaller church was erected at the same location in 1272 during the reign of Konstantin Asen – The Contemplative (reign 1257-1277). It is also thought that the church was built during the reign of Ivan Asen II (reign 1214-1241), in 1228. When Tarnovo fell under the Ottoman rule the monastery was razed and abandoned. In the 17th century, the monastery was rebuilt, thanks to the efforts of the resident in neighboring villages. Though the rulers refused to give permission for the monastery’s restoration, the villages worked on it at night and blackened it with smoke so that it would look like the old structure. In later years the monastery was again burned down once more, but it never ceased to function.
At the beginning of the 19th century, renovations were again undertaken, and in 1835 masterbuilders from Dryanovo built a new cathedral that worshippers still use to this day. In 1865, the most ambitious work on the monastery began. The Horozovski brothers from the city of Elena, who themselves later became monks, donated the funds to build living quarters for the monks that display a number of distinctive architectural features.
Throughout the 19th century, the monastery continued to play an active role, and opened a school for religious instruction. The monks cloistered at the monastery also took an active part in the struggle to free Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. The monastery housed a triptych painted in 1700 that is now in the Sofia Archeological Museum. There are a carved wooden frieze and wooden altar doors to the inner sanctum that were crafted in the 18th century.
Visitors to the church may view a number of impressive icons, both on the church’s iconostasis and elsewhere. For example, there are the icons “Saint Iliya (Elijah) on his Chariot” and twelve attendant scenes from his life, “Saint Dimitar Astride his Horse,” “The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin,” and others.
The Kapinovo Monastery is a functioning monastery. The annual celebration honoring the church is on December 6. The monastery offers overnight accommodations.
Presentation
The Kapinovo Monastery “Saint Nikola the Miracle Worker” is located 14 km from the city of Veliko Tarnovo and some 5 km from the village of Velchevo. The Monastery is declared an artistic and cultural landmark in Issue № 51 of The State Decrees for 1973. According to an inscription that no longer exists, a smaller church was erected at the same location in 1272 during the reign of Konstantin Asen – The Contemplative (reign 1257-1277). It is also thought that the church was built during the reign of Ivan Asen II (reign 1214-1241), in 1228. When Tarnovo fell under the Ottoman rule the monastery was razed and abandoned. In the 17th century, the monastery was rebuilt, thanks to the efforts of the resident in neighboring villages. Though the rulers refused to give permission for the monastery’s restoration, the villages worked on it at night and blackened it with smoke so that it would look like the old structure. In later years the monastery was again burned down once more, but it never ceased to function.
At the beginning of the 19th century, renovations were again undertaken, and in 1835 masterbuilders from Dryanovo built a new cathedral that worshippers still use to this day. In 1865, the most ambitious work on the monastery began. The Horozovski brothers from the city of Elena, who themselves later became monks, donated the funds to build living quarters for the monks that display a number of distinctive architectural features.
Throughout the 19th century, the monastery continued to play an active role, and opened a school for religious instruction. The monks cloistered at the monastery also took an active part in the struggle to free Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. The monastery housed a triptych painted in 1700 that is now in the Sofia Archeological Museum. There are a carved wooden frieze and wooden altar doors to the inner sanctum that were crafted in the 18th century.
Visitors to the church may view a number of impressive icons, both on the church’s iconostasis and elsewhere. For example, there are the icons “Saint Iliya (Elijah) on his Chariot” and twelve attendant scenes from his life, “Saint Dimitar Astride his Horse,” “The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin,” and others.
The Kapinovo Monastery is a functioning monastery. The annual celebration honoring the church is on December 6. The monastery offers overnight accommodations.
Work time
Monday – Sunday: 07.30 -18.00
How to get there
From Veliko Tarnovo take the road toward Velchevo. The monastery is 5 km past the village.
Servising
The monks in residence at the monastery offer services to visitors in Bulgarian only.
Practical information
Tourist information center
Tourist information center “Tsarevgrad Tarnov”
Head office – Veliko Tarnovo 5000, 5 Hristo Botev Str
November-March
Monday-Friday 9:00 -18:00
April-October
Monday-Friday 9:00 -18:00
Tel:
+358 62 622 148
+359 887 659 829
E-mail:
tic@velikoturnovo.info
office@velikoturnovo.info
Website: http://www.velikoturnovo.info/bg/
Second office – Veliko Tarnovo 5000, 27 Nikola Piccolo Str.
April-October
Monday-Friday 9:00 – 18:00
Saturday and Sunday 9:00 – 17:00
Tel:
+359 62 600 768
+359 886 640 100
Contacts
Kapinovo Monastery
Village of Velchevo, Municipality Veliko Turnovo
Tel:
+359 61 101 312
Virtual map
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