Holy Trinity Church Ustrem village

Overview

The Holy Trinity Convent is located 25 km south of the town of Elhovo, near the Topolovgrad village of Ustrem (Vakaf). This is the largest monastery in the Strandzha-Sakar mountain range. The shape of the monastery resembles an irregular trapezoid, in the middle of which is located the church "St. Trinity. The church was built in 1836, and the older church "St. St. Peter and Paul ”is built into it.

The present church is a three-nave, one-apse and dome-free stone building with two-row lighting of the nave achieved by a combination of wide and narrow windows. Below it is an ossuary, which is descended by stone stairs, and in its southern part there is a compartment with royal doors and an altar room in honor of the apostles Peter and Paul. Of interest is the church iconostasis with plastic carved elements and three rows of Revival icons. In the center of the iconostasis are the royal doors with beautiful plastic carvings. The church also houses Revival icons, a silver chalice from 1779 and old printed books.

During the riots in Kardzhali, the Ustrem Monastery was severely damaged, but at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century it was rebuilt by the bandit Hristo Voyvoda from Sliven, assisted by Inje Voyvoda, Kara Kolyu and Valchan Voyvoda. Here he became a monk and adopted the name Chrysanthemum. With the help of the local population, the renovation of the monastery began, and the former bandit became its abbot. The first church was demolished and a new one was built in its place, dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul. In 1813, Chrysanthemum died and was buried in the monastery, where his tombstone is still kept in the church vestibule.

About 500 m on the hill above the monastery is a cave called "Old Church", and later called "Karakolyuvata hole". It was formed naturally in the limestone rocks of the hill, at the foot of which flows the Manastirska River. It is a cave with an irregular shape and many niches on the walls. Research shows that in the tenth century there was a rock church measuring 8 by 6 m. The icons are painted directly on the rock, but because of erosion and human impact today can be seen only a small part of them. The cave has been inhabited since ancient times. It was a hiding place of Hristo Voyvoda, Kara Kolyo, Indje Voyvoda and others. Legend has it that Kara Kolyo often found a hiding place here. There is a niche in the Holy Trinity Monastery, which is supposed to be connected with the cave, and so the bandit managed to escape. The cave can be reached by a path, which in some places is narrow and can be dangerous. Every year, on the second Saturday of June, a traditional monastery fair is held. The monastery offers great conditions for rest, reflection and overnight.

Location: The Holy Trinity Convent is located 25 km south of the town of Elhovo, near the Topolovgrad village of Ustrem. In it is the church of the Holy Trinity.