Obradovski Monastery "St. Mina

Overview

Obradovski Monastery is located on the banks of the Vladayska River, in the former village of Obradovtsi, now the Benkovski district, Sofia. According to legends, the Obradov Monastery "St. Mina" was founded in the late Roman era. In the 11th century. in this place there was a large monastery complex with 40 chapels, many monastery buildings and a theological school, as well as a convent on Mount Athos, During the Middle Ages the monastery was part of Sofia's Mala Sveta Gora - a ring of monasteries around our present capital. The Crusades and the Ottoman invasions gradually completely erased the traces of the Holy Monastery, but the memory of the monastery named after the warrior saint Mina remains in the legends. During the excavation of the bed of the Vladayska River, the foundations of buildings were discovered, and later the river carried tiles, stones and bricks for a long time. In 1927 villagers accidentally come across the remains of the ancient monastery in the period 1942 - 1945. The Obradov monastery has been restored to its current appearance. Then the present monastery church was built, and a little later several chapels were built. In one of them, dedicated to St. Cosmas and Damian, there is a holy spring with holy water. A building was also built to shelter the pilgrims, which lasted until 1969, and two other residential buildings were erected in its place. Every year on November 11 in the Obradov Monastery is celebrated a holiday dedicated to the Holy Great Martyr Mina. Mina was an Egyptian who served in the Roman army during the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximilian. He died a martyr's death for the Christian faith because he refused to sacrifice to pagan idols. The Obradovsky convent is active. Today's monastery was built in the period 1942-1945. Then the church, a residential building and several chapels were built. The icons of the church altar were painted by Prof. Georgi Bogdanov, and the altar itself was carved by the two Sofia masters Mircho Radulov and Kosta Dinoev. All objects from the interior of the temple - dishes, chandeliers, icons, carpets and more. are donated by visitors.